Never Out Of Place

Saturday, August 6, 2005

Micah 4:12 – But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing-floor. (NIV)

I once had a red maple tree that grew from seed in a privet hedge that lined the driveway. I thought the tree was so precious that I let it continue to grow, with full intentions to transplant it one day.

By the time I got around to it, guess what? The roots had become so entangled there was no budging it. So I left it to grow, and after some years, it became a tall strong tree.

Then one day, my husband backed his vehicle into it, and now I could see it as a hazard. With no question, the tree was cut down in what seemed its prime time in life, strong and healthy — just out of place.

I began to think of the tree we cut down and compared it to the lives of people we loved. It seemed that God cut them down [my paraphrase] in what we would think was their prime time in life, when they were loved and still seemed useful and needed by us. When our roots were so entwined together, it hurt to have them torn away.

Although we are left questioning why a loved one has died in this way, we need to trust that God, in His infinite wisdom, has allowed this seemingly untimely death to happen.

To us it seemed that our loved one's life was cut short, much like my tree, but God does have a plan for it all. Though we are frail in our human understanding, in God's economy, nothing in life is ever out of place or taken away without reason.

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, and sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, have mercy upon us as we face difficulties in our lives. Though ones whom we loved, ones whom we felt were still useful and needed, have been taken away, hold each one of us in Your tender, loving arms when we hurt and struggle to understand. The master plan is Yours alone. May the knowledge of our Saviour and the faith we have bind us with You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook

About the author:

Anne Russell <annerussell80@gmail.com>
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Send your feedback to the author

Comments are closed.

Previous Post
«
Next Post
»
 



PresbyCan is a community of faithful, Holy Spirit-filled, Christ-centred, God-honouring Christians.