Broken and Uprooted

Last weekend’s storm left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity. For some that meant no heat or water and flooded basements .The damage from the wind to the trees and power lines was extremely widespread.  Walking around our neighborhood we were awestruck as we surveyed damage to a roof and a car with two trees on top of it. A massive tree had been uprooted and was blocking the main road while other trees were snapped in half. There is really no way to fully prepare for a storm of this nature.

The journey of life contains storms of all types and sizes. During this N’oreaster storm, we felt out of sorts and uprooted.  We were able to stay in a hotel for a couple of nights and had the money to buy hot food, for which we are very grateful. Staying at a hotel is good but not home and we were not on vacation.  But this was just an inconvenience.

Have you ever felt uprooted by a change of job? Uprooted by a move far away from friends and family? Uprooted by loss of health or a loved one?  We live in a broken world. These experiences are hard and painful but God’s Word tells us that He will never abandon us.

I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak,      Ezek 34:16 (ESV)

¹⁸ The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.   Psalms 34:18 

Friend, how deep are your roots of faith?  The answers to our many problems and guidance for each day are found in the Bible. So many people who call themselves Christians do not even read His Word on a regular basis or at all. How can we find strength and peace of mind if we don’t even know Him or seek His help?

  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose trust is the Lord. ⁸  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”        Jer 17:7-8 (ESV)

  Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.   1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)

 The Bible gives us so many examples to follow. The Psalms are a type of poetry full of raw emotion.  David praises God and cries out to Him.  He complains about life not being fair and the bad guys seem to have it all. He cries out when his heart is broken and his life is in danger. He also praises God for provision and protection. David was known as a man after God’s own heart.

 ¹ Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; ² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. ³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.   Psalms 1:1-3 (ESV)        

We too can hold on in faith no matter what the circumstance. It does not mean that everything can be fixed or will turn out the way we want. But it does mean having a life of peace, contentment and purpose.

GIVE THEM ALL TO JESUS    by Phil Johnson

1.  Are you tired of chasing pretty rainbows?

Are you tired of spinning ‘round and ‘round?

Wrap up all the shattered dreams of your life

And at the feet of Jesus lay them down.

  Chorus

Give them all, give them all,

Give them all to Jesus

Shattered dreams, wounded hearts , and broken toys.

Give them all, give them all,

Give them all to Jesus.

And He will turn your sorrow into joy.

2. He never said you’d only see sunshine;

He never said there’d be no rain.

He only promised a heart full of singing

About the very things that once brought pain.