But For The Trees

A series of events happened this weekend to draw back a curtain in my mind. I was able to see that, in one area of my life, I was not seeing the forest for the trees. I had spent so much emotional effort wrestling with the trees, constantly trying to prune back areas that would grow back overnight, blocking my path, always coordinating efforts with other people to move dead limbs from the roadways of progress, even dressing the  trees to make them look like they either were not there or were a part of the décor of my heart and life's work. I even figuratively poured green paint on some of the deadest of the dead to set them out as living for the world to see. I am sure many people were laughing at or pitying my efforts. Still others were too busy writing their own happy endings with dead branches to notice my silly maneuvers.

I have learned a couple of things, both this weekend and in recent weeks. I identified one of the densest forests in my life. Now, with God's help, taking one day at a time, I will navigate this forest. I will emerge victorious. I feel God telling me to do what Abraham did, and call the things that are not (yet) as if they already were! No more tree dressing. I will serve the Lord with overwhelming joy and I WILL ENJOY MY LIFE while I am waiting for the fulfillment of what I feel the Lord laid on my heart that He would do.

The second thing I have learned in recent weeks as a product of various trials, is so simple it will scare you that it took me nearly five decades to learn. No matter what comes, no matter what other people do or fail to do, I CAN ENJOY MY LIFE. Hey, it's part of my birthright as a believer. I can have overwhelming peace, and I can B.A.S.K. in my Father's love, whether or not others approve of me, whether or not I have failed to the point that the consequences are daunting. He will never leave me. He will never stop loving me. HE. IS. ENOUGH. His acceptance, His affirmation, IS ENOUGH. I don't have to be miserable, I don't have to come and go emotionally based on my circumstances or whether or not someone else finds me valuable. I CAN and I WILL continually look for the good in my situation and in my life and ENJOY serving God. All while believing Him for the things He has assured me of that I do not see yet.

The photo I have attached is a line of trees here in Williamson County last evening at sunset. I love a winter sunset. The lack of glorious leaves makes for a beautiful stark contrast with the colors of impending night. You might say that what looks like a curse (loss of foliage) becomes a blessing under the shower of God's beauty at sunset. He does all things well, and He makes all things beautiful in his time, as a female singer on Matt's lullaby cassette I played for him as an infant trilled so softly as he slept in perfect innocence way back when. God has restored my innocence. His acts of redemption are COMPLETE.