Not Dead Yet

In a single blustery day, the trees in front of our house went from a blaze of glory to looking like they were on life support.  For the next six months, the trees will appear stark like black lace across the sky.

But contrary to what is presented before us, the trees are not dead yet, but instead, abiding in an essential season.  There are things not obvious to my eyes, deeper factors than I can know, and an incredible mystery beyond my comprehension.

And while the tree is not displaying leaves or visible growth, it is getting ready for it.  It is a necessary time of change.  There is a reason for it, even if I cannot fully understand what happens.

In the winter,  far below the surface and round about as wide as the tree is tall,  the root system acts as a storehouse for essential food reserves that will be needed for the tree to produce spring foliage.  Water and minerals stock up the roots for the spring extravaganza of growth.

And amazingly enough, the best way for trees to obtain that water is through snow, which allows the water to soak into the soil slowly. Clever that God designed to nourish His creation that way.  It is the winter hibernation of trees that allows them to show off in the spring, grow throughout the summer, and bear fruit in the fall, the seeds of which bear even more trees.  Incredible how it works.  You would think that Someone designed it that way.  Winter is vital for those things to happen.  Trees are not just taking time off.

And for us, it is in those silent moments, that daily soaking in His Word that builds us up.  There are seasons when personal growth is revealed and fruit is apparent to the eye, but it is in those steady quiet days of deep rooting when God's strength is built up for the seasons ahead.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
      whose trust is the LORD.
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.

                             Jeremiah 17. 7-8