On this particular morning I felt unrest, like I wasn’t being heard or seen by the Lord. So I set out on a much needed walk to ‘get in His face” and find some answers to my question of why hasn’t what He promised me come about yet.
As I walked, I immediately was attracted to a huge oak tree in front of me. Having already walked by that same tree a hundred times, I was compelled to stop and look at it. I noticed the immensity of this tree and saw birds nesting in it, squirrels running up and down its trunk, and the shadow it cast on the ground that provided shade was huge.
Then I heard the Lord ask me, “How long do you think it took for this oak tree to get this big?”
His question alone gave me the answer I was looking for. He continued to speak to me about the years and years it took the tree to become this big. He pointed out that next to it was a much smaller tree, but an oak tree just like the big one—it was just younger.
Then the Lord began to tell me that this big oak tree had a root system that went deep into the earth. It’s tap root was able to get life-giving water so that the drought didn’t affect it. The root system expanded much wider and deeper than the entire shape of the tree that was seen on top of the ground.
The Lord then reminded me of something He told me 30 years ago, “You take care of the inside and I will take care of the outside.” I knew He was talking about my root system. I am to spiritually tap into the well of living water and expand to the left and to the right, going ever deeper.
This is to be our concern…go deeper, deeper still and God will take care of the ‘outside’—what we look like, what we become—a fruitful tree where others, especially the lost, can benefit by our branches, finding encouragement and shelter.
…”That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3
Commune In The Garden 