One Spring morning, a tender sapling emerged from his sleep in the cool, wet soil. A chorus of birdsong welcomed him. Beckoned by the warm sun above, he stretched his arms as high as he could. He creaked and sighed as the beams of light wrapped around him in a blanket of gold. He felt good. He felt loved by the sun.
At the same time his roots expanded and drank deeply of the pools of water left by the recent winter rains. And each inky night, he rested and dreamed of growing closer to his sweet luminescent friend the following day.
He felt good. He felt loved by the sun.
Every morning, new buds and leaves would emerge. Flowers crowned his head and bees hovered over him with attention and love. He felt good. He felt loved by the sun. Over time the pink crown fluttered to the ground as small bits of fruit emerged. There wasn’t much. But it was beautiful.
He felt good. He felt proud. He felt loved by the sun.
But one day, after all the fruit had fallen to the earth, the sun barely came up, obscured by fast moving clouds. He shuddered as the ominous breeze howled and he braced himself for change. For the next few weeks the sun would peak out of the clouds only for moments. His friend, the sun felt distant. Even still he soaked in the moments when he felt the warmth on his branches and creaked with pleasure.
He didn’t feel the sun as much. But he still felt loved by the sun.
Then came the days and even weeks when the son went missing. He had been abandoned. The tree tried to stretch like before, but this time he only felt hardened and cold. Leaves fell like tear drops on the ground.
The tree felt unloved by the sun. Worse yet. He felt bitter toward the sun.
Now his focus moved from the sky to the trees surrounding him. Even with the sun obscured, he saw the Palms and the Evergreens as resplendent as they had ever been.
Maybe it wasn’t the sun’s fault. Maybe he was the problem.
His exterior grew hardened and cracked. Scars emerged in his bark. Not only did the sun not love him. But the tree felt shame at his own lack of growth. He was going backward. Shouldn’t he be stronger by now?
The days passed and the young tree slept more and more. He stopped looking toward the sun for guidance and love. He felt like giving up. His focused moved to the sodden floor.
He dreamed of what might have been if he were a better tree.
If he were a better tree the sun wouldn’t have left him.
If he were a better tree, he would still be green like the others. He grew colder and sleepy.
Then one morning, something like a memory woke him from his slumber. The gentle caress of the morning sun kissed his tendrils as the birds emerged in song once more. Buds sprouted skyward and he grew daily once more. The bees returned and soon, large, sumptuous apples hung low from his heavy branches. His heavy arms sagged with pleasure and pride. He creaked under their weight. And he understood. The young tree had learned about seasons.
He felt good. He felt loved by the sun.
Months later with his fruit, all eaten, his leaves fell with the mercury.
The birds retreated and the sky grew dark once more.
But the seasoned tree wasn’t afraid this time. He knew growth would come again.
He welcomed the clouds as old friends, even as they obscured the sun.
The heavens opened and he drank deep from the earth. And while he couldn’t see or feel the sun,
He felt good. And felt loved by the sun.
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I don’t know if this analogy hits home for any of you.
Some of you may see it as too simplistic or sappy. (trees. sap. Get it?)
But I hope you will take a moment to embrace it anyway. Ask God what season you are in?
I’ve spoken to many Christians recently who find themselves depressed and wanting something better.
Parenting, school, age, grief, depression, health challenges, money problems, hormone changes and other situational seasons have left you feeling like your leaves have all wilted and fallen. The fruit is missing from your once fertile limbs. You feel shame. Some of you question your faith. And you look around and see fruit and deep green leaves on all the other Christians around you. But let me encourage you in this.
God still loves you. And seasons are just that. They come and go. You will again feel His warmth. Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t been a super christian lately. The Christian life is not linear. You’ll feel like you are going backwards sometimes. Just don’t stay there. Stick with us but don’t compare yourself to us. Some of us may be in a different season than you.
Look to God again every morning and one day you will feel his blanket of warmth wrapped around you again. You’ll see the leaves and fruit growing from your tree once more and you’ll be able to encourage those who feel faithless and fruitless like you once did. Just don’t give up. And DON’T mistake a long season for something permanent. You can do this, and He can help you. Don’t give up on Him, because He will never give up on you. And remember, just because you can’t feel God, doesn’t mean He isn’t there.
“But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.” Malachi 4:2
He won’t give up on you, Church. You can do this.
—Pastor Dale
