A branch violently whipped in and out of a screaming stream, bursting with flood waters.
The storm the night before was relentless. The branch, still attached to the tree, survived the night. It’s curious how those leaves didn’t get stripped off and carried away … lost forever.
I am a rape survivor. One day, I found myself in a mental storm that lasted for years. The raging torrents of life almost stripped me clean of my sanity and carried me away into the dark deluge. But I planted myself beside the Living Water and grew deep roots.
The one who trusts in the Lord has deep roots. It takes faith and courage to trust in a God we cannot see with our eyes or touch with our hands. Streams of water aren’t always calm. We experience rough waters. Sometimes, they last for a night; sometimes they last for years. However long they last, God will see us through them.
Life can be like that branch. We get caught up in the turmoil of life, get battered and bruised, and hang on for dear life. But if we are planted firmly with deep roots, we can hang on, endure, and not wither.
You may be a single parent working a full-time job and furthering your education for a better future for you and your kids. Your rough waters may be struggling through your studies. You may be an artist, frustrated that you can’t transfer the vision in your head onto the canvas. Or perhaps you’re an athlete just shy of your personal goals. Trust in the Lord and keep studying, honing the craft, and practicing while giving it your all. In due season, the fruits of your labor will come.
In whatever form the success comes, don’t give up even when the streams get rough. Plant yourself near the stream of Living Water and you will not wither.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Beth Wharton is the author of Divorce Devotions: Words of Encouragement for the Shattered Heart. She is a certified human resources professional, certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and holds a master's degree in counseling. She is a counselor turned life coach who has combined her passion for helping others and integrated over 25 years of collected skill sets to coach women to reach their goals. She can be found at www.newwomanrising.com.