This is a word of hope and encouragement for us today. I pray you will grab hold of it and be blessed.
Five years ago I painted this tree titled “Tree of Life.” It was a symbol of hope for me during a difficult and dark season.
A ferocious storm had suddenly swept into my life.
However, the Lord spoke to me before it hit and prepared my heart. He gave me instructions on what to do in the midst of it so that I could get through it, and not just get through it— flourish.
He spoke,
“You are like a tree. The wind is going to come, and the tree is going to sway. Stay rooted in Me, in My foundation. The wind may cause the tree to sway, but if it stays rooted, it will not fall. It will not be swept away. It may lose its leaves, but new fruit will come.”
As I heard this, a feeling of peace, comfort, and a sense of direction came over me. I wasn’t in this alone.
God allowed this storm to sweep in because He knew what would be produced in the end. He is the Alpha and the Omega.
God can use anything tumultuous life throws our way and create beauty from it.
I hung this painting beside my bed and every morning it served as a hopeful reminder to me of God’s promise. Even though I was facing harsh conditions at the time I believed that new fruit would soon emerge.
Currently, a storm has swept over our nation, but we are not alone. God wants to help us get through this, but not just get through it—flourish!
He wants to strengthen our faith and belief in Him—deepen our roots.
Our world is like a tree swaying heavily, but God wants to lift and push us upright so that we STAND strong in Him as mighty oaks for the Kingdom and His glory.
You might be thinking, How can any good come out of this storm?
God is good, God is all powerful, God is faithful, God is God—that’s how!
We are to ROOT ourselves in God, and in the foundation of His Word.
We are to deepen our roots in His love, grace, compassion, and mercy.
We are to trust in His faithfulness to carry us through.
We are to hold onto His promises to give us hope.
We are to believe in His faithfulness and goodness.
Although the wind is blowing loudly and the world is filled with chaos currently, God is a sure Foundation permanently. As we cling to Him we will not be swept away. We may lose some leaves, but new fruit will come.
This is His word of promise for us today.
I know His Word to be trustworthy. God’s promise held true to me as I held onto Him.
He turned everything the enemy meant for harm around for good, and now I have a beauty for ashes testimony because of it!
I am in the process of publishing my second book “Emergence: How To Experience New Life In Dead and Dark Places” where I share all the miraculous work God did for me and is doing through me, and how He can also do the same for you.
I believe this testimony to be very relevant to the circumstances of our day. God doesn’t waste any season. Just as He is using my storm to help others get through theirs, He will use yours.
God wants to produce a beautiful testimony of His goodness and righteousness through you!
He will do this as we fix our eyes on Jesus—the Tree of Life.
Hold on friends and dig deep into the wisdom and teaching of God. It is a tree of life for all who take refuge. As we look to Him we will become more like Him—oaks of righteousness.
This is one of my life verses.
It is His promise to those who put their hope, trust, and faith in Him this season:
and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
{Isaiah 61:3}
“Beauty for ashes” or “a garland (of flowers) or headdress.” There is an interesting wordplay in the Hebrew text. The word for “beauty” is phe’er, and the word for “ashes” is epher—simply the moving of one letter.
God has the power to change and move things around in our lives to make them into something beautiful.
“The spirit of despair, heaviness, or failure” The Hebrew word for “heaviness” (keheh) comes from a root word for “dark, dim, obscure, colorless, gloom.”
God has the power to turn gloom and darkness into colorful and vibrant joy and praise.
The oak, a hardwood tree, was used to make yokes for oxen and symbolizes strength, might (or mighty men), stability, conviction, uprightness, resoluteness.
“Oaks of Righteousness” points to a godly, spiritually mature people who will know the righteousness of God and walk in it.
God has the power to transform our weakness into His righteousness.
And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
{Romans 8:28 AMP}
God is at work in the lives and hearts of His people—those who are set apart for His plan and purpose. He wants to see the seeds of His goodness and love multiply throughout the world.
Jesus, the Tree of Life, multiplies himself in us so we become trees of righteousness.
A Tree becomes a forest.
The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.
Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].
The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so, But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.
{Psalm 1:1-6 AMP}
We were made to thrive and flourish alongside Him.
Oaks of righteousness live a long, abundant, and blessed life.
Planted in the house of the Lord, They will flourish in the courts of our God. [Growing in grace] they will still thrive and bear fruit and prosper in old age; They will flourish and be vital and fresh [rich in trust and love and contentment];
{Psalm 92:13-14 AMP}
As we are transplanted into God’s heavenly courtyard, a place rich in blessings, we stand and thrive in His presence. We overflow with His anointing as we continuously abide in Him faithfully. We receive nourishment and provision from His steady stream that flows beside us—the river of Zion.
The metaphors found in the verse above can be paraphrased as “No matter what he sets out to do, he brings it to a successful conclusion.”
He is not finished with us yet.
God wants to see His children EMERGE into a transformed people (Mighty Oaks able to withstand the buffeting winds and weather the storms of life) and to see testimony after testimony, and salvation after salvation arise like blooming flowers upon the Earth.
Hold on, dig deep in His Word, and believe in the fruits of His righteousness, peace, love, joy, prosperity, purpose, and blessings to spring forth in your life.
Beauty is coming!
Thrive and flourish. Live long and prosper. Bear fruit and multiply.
You are like a Tree of Life, planted in Him for the display of His splendor.