Like this tree, what’s going on, on the inside, makes all of the difference.
When a large tree fell on our house after Hurricane Irma, my hubby and I remarked at how healthy the tree was. It was completely green and it fell over from the roots. It was hit by two trees behind it. We just thought that it had to do with the extremely high wind gusts we received.
When the tree service removed it, the trunk told a different story. The tree was sick. It was dying from the inside. There was no way anyone could have known. The leaves were green. It looked like a healthy tree on the outside, but with trees, it’s the inside that counts.
I thought about that tree for days after they removed it. I thought about how it’s very easy to become just like that tree.
We can do all of the right things and say all of the right things. We can dress ourselves and carry ourselves in ways that look very healthy to the world around us, but inside we can be carrying weakened or dying souls.
When we carry around pain and anger, when we refuse to give the past to Jesus and let Him keep it, when we refuse to forgive someone, when we focus on what we don’t have or should have, or what others have, when we actively seek our own will over God’s, all of those things can cause sickness to develop in our hearts and souls.
And at some point, if we don’t surrender those vices, it will make us sick physically too. At some point, a strong wind of some sort, will knock us flat like that tree.
The good news is that Jesus is always ready and willing to heal us, and unlike dying trees, our hearts, souls and bodies can be restored to perfect health. But, we have to be willing to hand it all over. We have to be willing to let go of that stuff that makes us soul sick and that can be a tall order. Sometimes we have carried that soul gunk around for as long as we can remember. Even so, where has it gotten us?
If we ask for help, Jesus will help us, but we have to ask for help and be willing to surrender to Him. He will take it from there.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
A tree reminded me of the importance of soul health. Perhaps you needed reminding too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂