Hope Of A Tree
What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
Job 6:11, 17:15 (KJV)
Stumped
Job is perhaps the most quoted book when it comes to the topic of suffering. Rarely can you find anyone who has faced more loss and tragedy than this man. But Job’s suffering is largely overshadowed by his confusion. Even if you have never faced the same set of circumstances, you can identify with Job’s confusion in your own life. Why did this happen? Why me? Where is hope? Where is God?
We often use the word “stumped” when trying to express a state of confusion. I’m sure that you have used the phrase: “This problem has left me stumped.” The word itself refers to a remnant of something that has been cut or broken off. A stump reminds us that a beautiful tree once existed in that location. Has life dealt you a blow and you feel that you have been reduced to a stump?
I want to encourage you with a gold nugget of hope found in Job chapter 14. It’s easy to focus on what has been lost, but underneath a suffering stump, there is a source of strength that still remains.
The Scent Of Water
7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Job 14:7-9 (KJV)
8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
The hope of a tree is not found where the eye can see but it is found in the secret place. Think back to the moments when you were secretly alone with God in prayer. Remember those times when you pushed back the plate. You were building a root system that would sustain you through this trial in your life.
I recently came across some research by the University of Western Australia. They did an intensive study on how plants find water. The spiritual application is glorious!
Plants respond to the presence of moisture but scientists also discovered that plants respond to the sound of water. In other words, if the plant could not sense any moisture nearby, it would search for water by “listening” for it. The scientists attempted to fool the plant by playing a recorded sound of flowing water and waited to see how the roots responded. They were amazed that the roots did not grow toward the recorded sound of water. The scientists then turned on a source of real running water some distance away. Only then, did the roots respond and began moving towards that true life-giving source!
Oh my, we could stay here awhile. There is plenty of religious chatter in the world. It’s so easy to ask everyone else for their opinion of the situation. But could we stop for a moment and listen for that still small voice of God? Only He can provide true hope and healing for our stumped situation.
The New Beginning
Some trees like the pine, oak, and maple will never grow back again. Sadly there are great men and women who have made that same tragic decision. Other trees like the cottonwood, elm, and willow have the resolve inside their wounded stump to regrow again. When a tree re-grows, it will not be the same tree as before. Life has dealt a hard blow and those circumstances will affect the remainder of the tree’s life.
When Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, he had to leave behind family and a pagan religion in his journey of faith. When Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, he had to walk away from that encounter with a permanent limp. But the new man Abraham was called the friend of God (James 2:23). Limping Israel was transformed into a prince who had power with God and with man (Genesis 32:28). We limit God when we insist that the past is our roadmap for the future.
Are you stumped today? God loves to turn stumps into towering giants of faith! Keep seeking Him in the secret place. If you cannot feel Him, wait and listen for His still small voice. There is hope for a tree and there is hope for your stumped situation! Praise be unto God!