Like a tree planted by the waters!
Do you ever wonder why some people have it so easy, and why you struggle every day of your life? You ask yourself over and over, what have I done wrong? Is God mad at me for some reason? You can’t help but question when bad things happen in your life, tragic things that seems so unfair at the time. You question your faith, you even get mad at God. One of the biggest questions I’ve heard is why did God let this happen? To find the answer you just have to go to the book of Job and see what Satan did to Job. You see Satan doesn’t bother people who aren’t a threat to him. He works on people of faith, and tries to destroy that faith. Let’s face it, the more faithful Christians he takes out, the fewer people can be brought to the knowledge of Christ. Satan has even known to pit one Christian against another and split a church in half, usually over the most foolish things.
Whenever bad things happen in our lives we want to blame someone, and God is an easy target. But only good and righteous things come from our Heavenly Father, nothing bad comes Him. But just like in the case of Job, he will allow you to be tested to see if you depend on him, or on yourself. The truth of the matter is he will never leave you, no matter what you are going through, just call upon his name. God never moves away from you, you move away from him. He is the same yesterday today and forever, always available to you, anytime, anyplace, and anywhere.
So what are we supposed to do when we feel like a punching bag, and the world is wearing brass knuckles? We are supposed to be like a tree planted by the waters, unmovable! God is not the only one that is there for us, look around you, there are many members of one body that is here for your support. They will always come to your aid if you ask, that’s what being part of the family of God means.
I was at a funeral today which literally felt like my heart was being torn out. The person was so young and had so much to live for, you cannot help but ask yourself why. But then you see the multitude of people who were there to offer their love and support, and you begin to understand a little. We only see what’s in our own little world, but God sees the big picture and He only allows what we can handle even if we don’t think so at the time.
So how deep do your roots go? Will you be swept away by the tide the minute a wave of bad times comes your way? Or are you going to be firm in your faith and be unmovable? “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!”
As parents we need to help our children understand that bad times, and times of testing will come their way. And it is like the poem: FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND, when God picks you up and will carry you in your time of need and sorrow. We need to teach our children to: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
We as authors have been known to vacillate back and forth in our writings between having our heroes and heroines admit they messed up, or call it karma. Very little can be accomplished unless we take good hard looks at our lives and are willing to change the areas that need changing. We know the way to purify gold is by fire, God may allow us to be tested so we can be purified for a better use in furthering His kingdom.
Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Psalms 92:13-16
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psalms 1:3
I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalms 16:8-11