"Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."
(Romans 11:19)
Several years ago, the sweet warmth of Spring crept in before its usual time, and this Crepe Myrtle, along with many other plants in my yard made an early appearance. Not long after that, a verocious cold snap covered our area and virtually killed every bit of the new growth that my plants had. That summer, I wondered if this tree and others would ever recover. No life appeared in those shocked plants.
Two years later, this is the picture that I look at when I go outside. What I felt couldn't recover is more beautiful than ever!
The verse above reminds me that in our journey in this life with Christ, there are times when a quick and mighty wave of adversity can absolutely make us snap and appear that there is no life left in us. Unfortunately, our timetable is not God's, and restoratation may not be immediate...it may even take years, as with this Crepe Myrtle, but just as the picture shows, when it comes, it is more beautiful and healthy, because it was in God's timing. The blooms of our lives are so much prettier when the Savior is grafted in.
Several years ago, the sweet warmth of Spring crept in before its usual time, and this Crepe Myrtle, along with many other plants in my yard made an early appearance. Not long after that, a verocious cold snap covered our area and virtually killed every bit of the new growth that my plants had. That summer, I wondered if this tree and others would ever recover. No life appeared in those shocked plants.
Two years later, this is the picture that I look at when I go outside. What I felt couldn't recover is more beautiful than ever!
The verse above reminds me that in our journey in this life with Christ, there are times when a quick and mighty wave of adversity can absolutely make us snap and appear that there is no life left in us. Unfortunately, our timetable is not God's, and restoratation may not be immediate...it may even take years, as with this Crepe Myrtle, but just as the picture shows, when it comes, it is more beautiful and healthy, because it was in God's timing. The blooms of our lives are so much prettier when the Savior is grafted in.
