...other meditations

inside out

i am watching, from my office window, the beginning stage of the removal of a collapsed tree. a utility vehicle, too large for my garage, managed to maneuver through my back yard. funny, the tree appeared to be healthy and vibrant; its bark normal and the branches full of green leaves. then on one gusty day, it splintered nearly in half. currently it rests in the bough of another tree and now that mighty oak stands about 20 feet shorter.

a beautiful creation of God stood strong and tall just two short weeks ago. however, i was unaware of the deterioration from disease or insects, eating it from the inside out. i was misled by its seemingly healthy outward appearance, unable to discern how unhealthy it really was on the inside. circumstances like these certainly catch us off guard, don't they?

through this experience, i am reminded that people aren't always what they appear on the outside. the outwardly energetic and happy person can be weighed down with sadness and despair on the inside. the people appearing as peaceful may have a war raging within themselves. some of us don't even realize what is happening within our own self. that is why it is so important that we draw near to God and fill ourselves up with His Word.

i waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. 2He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. psalm 40:1,2

the passage above speaks about crying to God in our despair or time of unhealthiness. we are not immune to disappointments and failures and we often get hurt. we're not as strong as we appear or as strong as we think we are. but, keeping God close keeps us strong. putting our trust in Him and casting all of our anxieties on Him allows us to heal — from the inside out. we each have our own cry for help. some of us display it out in the open and others keep it in. with that said, it is important for us to look at others and ourselves beneath the surface. we can't afford to take people at face value. lives are just too precious.

as i bring this meditation to a close, i would like to urge everyone to become even more vulnerable. share your fears and your doubts with God. ask Him the hard questions you need answers for. if there's something troubling your heart and you know you've done wrong…confess it to Him. but, don't stop there! share the good things as well. tell Him how much you love Him. tell Him how thankful you are for those things He's blessed you with. praise Him for that beautiful sunrise! surely, He will fill you up and strengthen you and help you to stand tall and firm!

God's own sapling,

tamara

cast your cares on the lord and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall. psalm 55:22