The Tender Plant—Isaiah 53:2

 I walked down the road on this beautiful, sunny, winter morning. The tree branches swayed in the breeze–empty and barren. While I see the green of grass, it's struggling to maintain its vibrance in this cold, dry season. As I look around, I see clear signs of winter—even though we don't often see snow. The squirrels are busy collecting things that have fallen from the trees and lay waiting for their consumption. The deer are on the prowl looking for something to eat and finding alternatives to fresh greenery, plucking dried looking leaves from low shrubbery. While the sun is bright, there is a lack of color.

In just a few weeks, my region of the world will begin to come alive. Buds will form on the trees, shrubbery will begin filling in, and lawns will begin to take on their fresh look of emerald green. Life takes on the colors of green—a deep, pleasing green as plant after plant sprout forth tender, new shoots. These are the thoughts that crowded my mind as I walked this morning, longing for spring and the warmth of sunshine on my face. But what quickly came to mind was another Tender Plant—the One we read of in Isaiah 53:2:

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of the dry ground (KJV) :

There is something so pleasing about a tender plant—soft, new and fragile. It's most vulnerable in this stage of newness and needs care for it to thrive and grow hearty. To think of our Messiah as this tender plant brought many thoughts to mind. I appreciated this quote from Wayne Jackson for christiancourier.com:

 "a “tender plant,” attempting to survive in “dry ground” seems like an unlikely situation. In reality, however, such was by divine design! The text is intended to emphasize that what appears impossible with men, certainly is not with God."

We can appreciate that our tender plant—Jesus, did in fact thrive and grow and complete the mission God sent Him to accomplish. How about us? As new believers, we also were tender plants—plants that needed intentional nutrients in order for growth, maturity and completing the purpose God has for each of us. Pouring in God's Word, prayer, fellowship with other Christians, using our gifts for the benefit of our local church, humble service and obedience to His leading help us to grow and mature. But I love the thought that while we are growing and maturing, we still want to remain tender—pliable to His molding and shaping.

In my area of the world, August is generally a dry month. The once tender plants of spring are now deprived of water and scorched from the heat of summer. They are no longer a vibrant green, they are more of a yellowish-brown. Brittle to the touch, they easily break from the summertime conditions of the South. I see lessons in this, too—that the pressures and temptations of this world can harden us. While there is goodness to a hearty plant, a plant that is dried up of needed nutrients is on the brink of death. We want to remain rooted in Christ—the only sure way to stay thriving and tender in the harshness of a sinful world. 

Maybe you're also in a place where you're longing for spring. Winter—while it has its own unique beauty—can seem long and at times, dreary. But God is faithful and the seasons will change as they do each year, cycling from spring to summer, then fall and winter. But no matter what life season you may be in, may each of us remain tender—unchanged by the harsh realities of the world. May we, like Jesus, remain rooted in the Father, seeking to complete the mission He has for each of us. May we stay strong and connected, allowing Him to work in us, and through us. And may we enjoy the blessings of each lesson learned—even those that caused us pain. May we be known by others as being tender, faithful, and actively thriving in the work God has for us. 

I Can't do This!

     I am a slow learner, but man, I am learning. I think back on a "pre-mom me", and I hear myself saying that I couldn't handle losing a pregnancy- then I walked that journey not once, but twice! I see myself through the years telling my own husband and others I could never forgive an affair, and certainly couldn't deal with that, and what do you know? I think it's our feeble attempt at almost telling God, not me- that is too big for me to handle. And I think that's true, for the most part.
     Life is going to have its share of trials and hard times. It can't really be any different when we live in a world touched by sin, and its consequences. I have wished to fast forward through those more difficult days and seasons, but then I would miss the lessons in them. When it comes to the bigger heartaches in life, we will struggle even more if we don't find a source of strength. The world places a lot of emphasis on physical strength, and while it has a benefit to us, it won't help us through those harder days. And since I go to the gym out of necessity over enjoyment, I'm pretty glad it isn't that kind of strength I will need in order to survive hardships.
     I know people talk about how God won't give you more than you can handle, and I don't necessarily think that is true. Because when we are relying on Him to fight our battles, we will find that our strength doesn't really matter, but His does. I think a better way of putting it is like this - He won't give us more than He can handle. Because when it comes to the really hard stuff in life, like adultery, I am going to need strength much bigger than my own. In those moments, it won't be me that will carry myself through them, it will be my Heavenly Father!
     I think the Apostle Paul got it. He talked about how in his weakness, he could be strong. When I allow myself to be weak, and just give it over to God to handle, I am the strongest I can be! So when people talk to me about my strength, it truly isn't mine you are seeing, it's His! There is so much comfort in knowing that no matter what life presents, I won't have to handle it alone. No matter how I may struggle against the difficult things, I need to remember that if I truly want to be victorious over them, I must let the Source of my strength handle it for me. And I'm learning something else, too -never say never!

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 ESV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Ephesians 6:10 ESV
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear of be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the strength You give me. I am not able to do some of the harder things on my own. You challenge us to give up our own will, and allow You to transform us with Your strength and power. I thank You for that marvelous gift- which enables me to handle what I could not, apart from You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!