“For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again…” – Job 14:7a
REFERENCE:
No matter what a tree has suffered – chopped and cut down by the axe of circumstances, there is still hope for it. Its roots are buried deep in the soil; therefore, it will sprout again when droplets of water touch it. Trees in the northern hemisphere often drop all their leaves in autumn to help them weather the winter. They look naked, bare, and exposed, but when spring comes, they blossom again. You can never write them off based on their leafless looks.
Psalm 1:3 likens us to trees. In life, times of scarcity, dryness, and lack will come, seasons where it seems you are not making progress. Life can throw unpleasant surprises at you: times where ‘axes’ of tough times, job loss, break up in relationships, delayed hope, or difficult work settings come at you from all sides. So long as your roots are deep in God, His Spirit, and His word, do not write yourself off. There is yet hope for you; you will surely sprout again. It is not the end.
Your times and seasons are in the hands of God. He does not work with our calendar; trust Him with your tomorrow. You may be in the autumn of your life now where all your leaves (network and sources) are fallen off; do not worry, spring is coming. You may be experiencing a setback, cut down by the money you lost in an investment, or bad debt because of inflation. Stay rooted. It is not the end. You will sprout again. Let this devotional be like the scent of water to your roots. God is still at work, be expectant. You are still in the middle of your journey; it is not the end. Prophet Micah said, “Do not rejoice (just yet) over me, my enemy; I may be down now, but I am rising again; things may be dark and bleak now, but I will soon shine.” This is not the end.
You may be reading this, and your experiences thus far have been great. God still says to you, “This is not the end.” You can strive to be better, do more, learn more, and give more.
When a tree is cut down, it gets the chance to bring forth new tender shoots. Also, the falling of leaves in autumn is to protect a tree from the harshness of winter. You may not see it now, but there is a blessing in your setback. You only need the gift of another hour, day, week, month, or year. As long as tomorrow will come, what God has promised you will come to pass. Keep breathing, and you will get there; your best days are ahead of you. THIS IS NOT THE END.
ADDITIONAL STUDY:
Jeremiah 33:20-22, Isaiah 60:14-20 & Romans 4:17
DECLARATION
I declare that I will find my ‘appointed day’ before this year runs out in Jesus’ name. I will not lose heart; my testimony is still being cooked. I will not put a full-stop when God is still writing a sentence; there are many more pages to be written, and my story has not ended yet. Where I am now is not an ending; it is just a point in the story where I turn the page to greater things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
This is not the end for me,
It is just a BEND, not the END! Thank You Jesus!
Thank you Lord for yet another chance to be better. I cannot give up no matter what cus the future is better and bigger. All I need is to be rooted.
God gives life to the dead and calls the things that are not as though they were. It can only get better from here. Being cut down does not mean being cut off; there shall be a sprouting again, in Jesus’ name.