Barren trees: beauty in desolation

"Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Yesterday morning I awoke to a wintery surprise outside my windows: snow! White flakes were gently falling from the sky above, adding another layer to the thin blanket that already covered my yard. As I gazed outside, marveling at the serene beauty, I was, as I so often am this time of year, struck by the sight of the trees. Bleak. Barren. Desolate. Stripped. Fragile. Dead. Their barren beauty, highlighted all the more by the snow outlining their naked frame, spoke to my heart and reminded me of a moment I had when I lived in Crested Butte. 

Here is an edited version of what I wrote about that moment on January 17, 2003: 

During my ski break a few days ago, I was alone on a lift just enjoying the beauty of the day. It was superb! Deep blue skies, barely any wind, and fresh snow on the mountain... a truly stunning day! As I rode along, I began thanking he Lord for His beauty captured in this moment, beauty that spoke of His awesome power and unfailing love. 

About this time, I noticed the trees. The aspen lose their leaves and stand naked throughout the winter, while the evergreens remain wrapped in their blanket of leaves. Though the beauty of the snow-capped evergreens was a captivating sight, it was the twiggy aspen trees that captured my attention. 

As I looked at the aspen, I was struck at how they stood. Picture a person with their hands held high in praise, or a child grasping for the special treat a parent is handing down, reeeeeaching for whatever it is, sure it is a treasure. That is what these aspen resembled. They looked as though their hands were raised in praise to their Creator, reaching for every good thing He had to give them. I felt as though the words of Isaiah 55 were coming to life before my eyes! 

"For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

A glorious sight made even more poignant by what sunk in next. The aspen that so captivated my attention were barren. Having been stripped of their leaves, the leaves that help make these trees so unique and lovely, they stood, twigs glaring against the snow, barren, bleak, and desolate. And yet, they stood in a posture of praise. 

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

As I sat watching these trees burst into a song of praise before me, I was reminded that though I may occasionally feel as these trees look - stripped, barren, bleak, and desolate - I should resemble them in another fashion as well: arms raised high in praise, reaching for the One who graciously bestows all that we need and every good thing. How I need to take on their posture in all seasons of life!

I admit, I don't always feel so inclined to do this! In fact, giving thanks amidst a winter season of life can make this task exceptionally difficult, excruciating to do. However, Scripture can encourage us in these times. The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast (1 Peter 5:10). For those who are in Christ, we are further promised an abundant life (John 10:10). Abundance rarely comes without its trials, but those light and momentary afflictions are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17) - as hard as that may seem to believe in the trial!

God has a reason for every season (Ecclesiastes 3:1), and seasons of what seem like barrenness and desolation might be necessary in order to have a season of "leaves." I know I all too often forget this reality! Furthermore, I have learned that seasons of barrenness, bleakness, and desolation offer the sweet blessing of knowing and loving God for God and not just His blessings. May we be willing to receive such a gift, trusting that our heavenly Father knows best. 

I'm thankful for the twiggy branches of the trees that remind me of eternal truths. I pray you and I both are given the grace, mercy and strength to give thanks in ALL circumstances for we can rest assured that this is God's will for us in Christ. It may just be that praising God despite our circumstance is what yields an eternal perspective and ruthless trust to enable us to face our trials and afflictions, our fears, our bleak seasons with hope, truth, and peace. 

Never forget your heavenly Father loves you passionately and furiously, even in life's winters! Whatever your season, learn from these barren trees and take on a posture of praise. May you go forth in joy and be led forth in peace... may you be able to see glimpses of His beauty even in desolation. 

Thankful, 

Jessica

Sweet Tea - Psalm 119:103, Proverbs 13:19

Originally written November 10, 2003; edited on February 4, 2015

My Mammaw was famous for her sweet tea... at least to my brother and me. Sweet tea was rarely to be found in the house of our childhood because my mom (wisely) chose to keep the temptation of this sweet nectar out of the regular drinking rotation. Therefore, sweet tea was aptly referred to as "Mammaw's Tea," because we only had it at her house in Mississippi. Not until my teenage years did I learn that Mammaw's Tea was really just plain ole sweet tea. (Great secret, Mom!)

Mammaw is no longer with us, but my mom inherited her mother's art of making amazing sweet tea. However, it remained a mystery to me. For years, I tried to imitate their tea and failed miserably with every attempt! Mine never tasted quite right... until I discovered their secret: put the sweetener in first. Doing so allows the sugar (or sweetener) to dissolve fully and, therefore, infuse the hot tea and water as it is poured into the pitcher.  I'm sure there are other great methods to prepare sweet tea, but in my experience, this order leads to perfection every. single. time.

Making tea recently reminded me that my life needs to mirror this method.

What in the world am I talking about?

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103 ESV

I need Jesus to be first. I need Him to be first in my heart, in my desires, in my relationships, in my priorities, in my everything. To help align my heart in this order, I need His word and time alone with Him to be the first part of my day. Put the sweetener in first. 

As life's demands and responsibilities have escalated, this time with the Lord has become increasingly more precious, appreciated, and needed, but also increasingly more difficult to maintain. Kids wake early. Dog and kids get sick. Smoke alarms remind you to check their batteries at 4am, or toddlers throw a party in their cribs from 2:30-5am, thus enticing me to turn off the alarm. I oversleep. My unending to-do list takes precedent over my devotional time. Whatever my excuse or legitimate distraction, I've come to see that whatever I pour in to my day first tends to flavor everything that is poured into me throughout my day. It sets the tone for how I will interact, respond, and receive the day God gives me as it unfolds, which is all the more reason for me to apply the sweet tea secret to how I order my days, as best I can. Then my day, my heart, and my mind are sweetened and flavored with His truth and by the time I've had with Him, and not overpowered by the bitter, painful, and frustrating moments poured into my world on any given day.

Furthermore, one of the sweet blessings that comes in these precious morning moments is that I find the Lord meeting the deepest longing of my heart: intimacy with Christ. We were all wired to desire and need God, and each day we need our daily portion of Him. In His perfect and sovereign ways, He uses our earthly desires to point us to this deeper desire, to Him. Too often I misread these longings or don't look beneath the surface of them to see Him. Yet, Scripture is clear: He is our hearts' deepest desire (Psalm 42 paints a great picture of this!), and His word is the sweetener to our heart, mind, body, and soul. When this longing is met, it is so, so sweet to the soul.

"A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul..." Proverbs 13:19 ESV 

Mammaw would be proud to know her method of making sweet tea has reminded me of more eternal truths. May you and I both seek the Lord on how our hearts and souls' deepest desired can be fulfilled in Christ. May we discover anew just how very sweet it is to be in the presence of our King knowing that in doing so we will discover the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need as Paul writes of in Philippians 4:12-13. May His truth sweeten even the bitterest parts of our hearts and lives.

Put the Sweetener in first, my friends... and I pray it is so sweet to your soul.

In Christ's love and grace,
Jessica

Questions to consider:
- Are you making time with the Lord a priority? When is the best part of your day for you to spend time in God's word?

- How might you have more consistent time in God's word? Do you need to rearrange your schedule or let the Lord erase something from it?

- Do you find the bitter struggles (daily or monumental!) stealing the joy you are meant to have in Christ? How does or how might daily time in God's word help?