Last fall, I peered out our bedroom window and noticed a familiar scene.
Rod, with satisfaction on his face, dragging my beloved vine up the driveway.
Wrapped around our mailbox, was once a flourishing vine, one of my favorites. But to Rod, it was an overgrown weed. Yes. Even after 18 years of marriage, we still have clashing ideas when it comes to trees and vines! ;-)
In shock, I ran out to complain. The mailbox was bare. And there were no visible sign of life. Not even the stump.
As difficult as this was, I had a glimmer of hope. God resurrects perennials, EVEN when there is no sign of life. This brings Him glory.
Fast forward. Nine months later, while getting the mail, I looked down and noticed something grand and wonderful. Almost overnight, the vine had grown by a foot. Comfort and joy flooded my heart, not because of it’s coming beauty, but because of the candid reminder of God’s faithfulness.
God prunes us. He disciplines us. He even sends the locust to devour us. But, no need to despair. When we return and repent, He relents. He restores to new life those who are bowed down.
Beloveds, when you are painfully pruned, remember God will never destroy you. We are like perennials. He restores you back to health. He makes a wilderness green. He causes the barren tree to bear fruit. He makes the fig tree and the vine to give their full yield. (Joel 2)
Fear not. Like a perennial, you will return to fruitfulness.
(Taken from the book of Joel)
Rod, with satisfaction on his face, dragging my beloved vine up the driveway.
Wrapped around our mailbox, was once a flourishing vine, one of my favorites. But to Rod, it was an overgrown weed. Yes. Even after 18 years of marriage, we still have clashing ideas when it comes to trees and vines! ;-)
In shock, I ran out to complain. The mailbox was bare. And there were no visible sign of life. Not even the stump.
As difficult as this was, I had a glimmer of hope. God resurrects perennials, EVEN when there is no sign of life. This brings Him glory.
Fast forward. Nine months later, while getting the mail, I looked down and noticed something grand and wonderful. Almost overnight, the vine had grown by a foot. Comfort and joy flooded my heart, not because of it’s coming beauty, but because of the candid reminder of God’s faithfulness.
God prunes us. He disciplines us. He even sends the locust to devour us. But, no need to despair. When we return and repent, He relents. He restores to new life those who are bowed down.
Beloveds, when you are painfully pruned, remember God will never destroy you. We are like perennials. He restores you back to health. He makes a wilderness green. He causes the barren tree to bear fruit. He makes the fig tree and the vine to give their full yield. (Joel 2)
Fear not. Like a perennial, you will return to fruitfulness.
(Taken from the book of Joel)
