Sunday Supernaturally: Spring Cometh

To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:3 NKJV

I’ve been in a position in the last week to observe a lot of trees. When I arrived in New York last Thursday there were still quite a few beautiful Fall leaves, deep reds and bright yellows. Then came this Thursday night. High winds and driving rain knocked over trees, interrupted power supplies, redistributed lawn furniture, and ripped off shingles. The Fall leaves fell and blew all over the place. Yesterday’s beautiful trees were today’s tall, denuded sticks. As I walked around this afternoon, it struck me that those dead-looking branches, in just a few months, will spring forth again with buds, then leaves, then fruit. It’s just seasons.

Life flows in seasons for us as well. Isaiah calls us trees. David calls us trees. (Psalm 1) Both of them call us “planted.” No matter how cold and dismal your current situation, if you’re a tree of righteousness, planted by the Lord, your Spring will come. If the Lord planted you in a church, stay planted. Don’t get blown away. Cling to your roots. The season will change if you stay the course. Enjoy the dormancy, let the damaged places heal, drink deeply from the well of living water: Spring is coming!