Thankfully, there were trees that didn't crumple with the heavy ice. But these trees, that once stood proud and tall, reaching toward heaven, were now, humbly bowed down, touching earth, frozen to the ground. They were unable to free themselves and stretch their boughs to the sky. I went out and stood underneath those branches, where it looked like I was in the middle of a frozen wonderland. Limbs that I could normally never reach, surrounded me on all sides, with the ice shimmering in the sunshine. It was as if I was standing among strands of diamonds!
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| Trees that once stood tall, now hung upside down with the weight of the ice! |
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| Standing underneath branches that normally were high above my reach. |
Not only were the trees encased in ice, but early blooms and buds, that had begun to come to life, were shrouded in a glittering shell. It was all at once, beautiful and disturbing. I wondered, would these delicate blooms be able to continue their growth and blossom and be fruitful, once the ice melted, or would they fall from the vine, unable to go on with life? Do your troubles cover you, stopping you from going forward with life? Do you feel stuck, unable to reach toward the Son? Are you frozen in time by circumstances and fear?
Sure enough, after several days, the warmth of the sun began to melt the ice. You could hear small pieces of ice fall to the ground all around like the sound of breaking glass. We watched in amazement as the biggest, strongest trees, broke loose from the ice. They sprang right back to their proud position tall and reaching for the sky. They basked in the sun, as strong as ever. I wondered, if we drench ourselves in the presence of Christ, can our loads be lifted and can we be set free to reach toward the Son and all of His glory?
It was then, that I noticed something that broke my heart. The youngest trees, the babies, the ones who were the smallest and weakest; they didn't bounce back when the ice left them. I was confused and asked my husband, why those trees didn't stand back up, tall and strong. The other trees were much heavier and it seemed as though it should have been those trees that had difficulty straightening up. But it was not so. The strong trees had roots that went deep and held firm to the earth that they were buried in. The younger trees, my husband explained, came up by the roots, with the weight of the ice. They weren't deep enough, strong enough, to withstand the elements.
"Yes, that's it," I thought! If we don't bury ourselves deep in Him, if our root system is shallow and not drinking in from rich deep soil, His Word and His Spirit, than we can be pulled up by the roots. When life and burdens become heavy, we can be uprooted, lose hope and not stand tall and finish our race, our high calling!
If you are going through times that are trying and testing you, causing you to be weighed down, take heart. I encourage you to make time with Him, in His Word, worshipping Him. Send your roots deep, until you can't tell where you begin and the Son ends. Become entwined, enmeshed in His heart. Let Him bear your burdens and walk with you. Tell Him your deepest hurts and fears.
The Son can melt that which is too heavy for you to bear. He will be your grace and keep you strong.
From His lap,
