There was a tremendous storm that blew through one evening. It broke branches off trees, as well as complete tree trunks, amongst other things. As I began picking up some of the branches in the yard, some thoughts came to me that I’d like to share.
As we go through life, we are given personal "storms" to go through. The harder/stronger they are the more "mess" they leave. Just as a tree has branches, limbs, trunks that may break off (which are the weakest part of each tree) - we also may have to experience a separation from something that seemed a part of us, but it was something that the Creator knows we needed to offload, to continue to grow or change, in a different direction.
"Limbs" and "branches" (the "smaller" stuff), we can usually clear out on our own. "Trunks" (the "larger" stuff), may seem nearly impossible and it is easy to mentally say, "I can't clear out all that!" Just as a person needs help, whether with other people, and/or with various tools/machinery, so too, we need help removing the "trunks" in our lives. This is where the Creator says, "I'm here to help, just ask." He also provides help through other people, "tools" such as His Word, and/or other sources - depending on the situation.
The question is...will we pick up the "branches" and "limbs", and cut up the "trunks" of the debris that became detached, and discard/destroy (separate ourselves from) them, or leave them where they are, to be a burden of working around & keeping us from totally completing what we are to do, as we go on with our lives?
The things in our life that we feel we have been detached from through a storm in our life, need to be completely eliminated from our life, as we can begin whatever new growth the Creator has planned for us. We need to learn from our storms rather than look around and sulk about the mess that has been made through the Creator "pruning" some of our "weak" areas we are not to continue holding on to.
Let the Creator prune you, discard the waste that is no longer to be in your life, and allow yourself to grow!
Whether we realize it or not, storms are actually for our good; whether personal "storms" or actual weather storms, as either one is a call to get in touch with our Creator. Look beyond the obvious to find the hidden reality of events, and you'll be amazed.
