By: Jenny Smith

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬

I have a tree in my backyard that I was looking at the other day and thinking, gosh we should trim this tree. It looks dead, and nothing has bloomed on it in so long. There are barely any leaves even on it. If we trim it, maybe then it will grow back healthy and bloom some flowers. I forgot about it, and two days later, the entire tree was covered in bright yellow flowers. What an incredible reminder of how God is working, even when we can’t see it. Even when we think that He is nowhere near us, no way He is at work- He is. Just like He was with this tree. I honestly thought the tree was done and maybe a big trim would give it a second chance or else we should just remove it. But God. He always has other plans, plans we maybe can’t see. He is always working, even when we can’t see it. Just like he was working on my tree. 

I’m reminded to not give up praying for someone or something. Sometimes things seem hopeless… maybe you have been praying for a loved one to know Christ, a family member to receive healing, a relationship to be restored. Don’t give up. Maybe you aren’t seeing flowers… yet. Maybe just like my tree your seemingly “dead” situation isn’t dead, but really close to exploding with new life and beauty. 

What in your life do you think is dead? Maybe it’s not dead, maybe it just needs more time… more time to let the God of the universe do a little more work. I pray for you to have patience as you wait on Him. As Isaiah says in chapter 40, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Or as in Psalm 31:24, I pray, “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”