I Am A Tree?

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy

David Crowder

Until today, I’ve always considered this song lyric to be one of the dumbest ever. However, While listening to this song on my way to the store, I realized my judgment was hasty and shallow because I had never given it much thought. Whenever this verse played, I would dismissively think, “How absurd! A tree, facing the immense power of God, would be uprooted effortlessly, like flicking a crumb off a table.” It seemed ridiculous that a tree could withstand such force unless… It occurred to me that yesterday’s post on sanctification, coupled with my recent meditation on the topic, has helped me grasp the profound meaning behind this seemingly simple song lyric.

In truth, a tree could never endure that level of force, the force of God’s love hurricane, unless it had deep roots in Christ. Once we are firmly rooted in Him, we can withstand the hurricane-like winds of His immense love, often manifested as sanctifying trials. These trials are integral to the process of sanctification. Our ability to persevere through them depends on being grounded in the Lord. Without being rooted in practices like prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship, our roots remain shallow, and the hurricane will uproot us, blowing us away.

This brings to mind Jeremiah 17:7-8,

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Our Lord’s love is the mightiest hurricane imaginable, and we are like trees—trees that have their roots in Christ—capable of withstanding the fiercest hurricane winds of His love. On a side note, irony strikes as we woke up this morning to three sick children, each throwing up. So, rest assured, I find myself firmly in the midst of a God’s love hurricane. Yet, I am profoundly grateful for God’s sanctifying love.

In Him, with love

mike

p.s. I may miss a few days due to illness.