Have you felt like something in life has been uprooted? Is God behind it? Lisa shares.
“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says, ‘Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots”‘” (Ezekiel 17:9).
Does God ever uproot something in your life and allow it to be killed off, rather than letting it slowly die in your life–causing you to be permanently impacted by it?
My family and I recently drove from San Diego, California to Eugene, Oregon for my sister’s wedding, a 1000-mile trip each way. Driving the length of California we saw the depth of the drought and many farmers who were struggling to find water.
I had recently watched a television special about the drought, and how farmers of generation-old almond trees were choosing to uproot a third of their crop and put the trees through the choppers, since there was not enough water for them.
Evidently, it is better for the soil to choose a portion of the crop to uproot and kill off, rather than let it die a slow death. We saw examples of many healthy trees completely uprooted on their sides, waiting for the wood chipper.
I have seen God use this same technique in my own life and it is never pleasant.
Sometimes He comes along and uproots an area of our life that seems to be under complete control. Except, He is aware of how a forthcoming drought in our life may not be able to water all of the different areas. He is choosing to uproot a portion of it before it taints the soil in our life, causing permanent damage.
Consider for a moment where God has killed off something in your life. Perhaps your health, or a friendship, maybe a career. You sat back and wondered Why? It didn’t seem to be doing anything destructive to your life!
And yet now, when you see what you experienced after this uprooting, it makes more sense.
Maybe you were forced to retire and then later the company went bankrupt and few employees got severance benefits. Maybe a friend quietly disappeared and now you hear her life is in turmoil as she is making poor choices and destroying multiple relationships.
How might God be uprooting areas of your life to protect you?
Prayer: Lord, being uprooted is exhausting. As we see our hopes, circumstances, or relationships be condemned to the chipper we grieve then. But give us the ability to trust You fully and embrace the uprooting, rather than fight it. Perhaps you are protecting us from a coming drought. Amen.
About the author:
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and has lived with rheumatoid arthritis since 1993. She has recently started homeschooling her son out of necessity and has felt many things in her life uprooted. She is clinging to the fact that God has a plan and is salvaging the soil in her family’s life.
What has God uprooted in your life recently? How can you grieve it while not allowing your grief to block out God’s blessings?
If you are having a hard time surrendering over your dreams to God (and who doesn’t?) take a few minutes to listen to this song, “Empty My Hands” Tenth Avenue North. I love the lyrics and it is a song I will return to during those hard times of giving my life’s plans and dreams over to God. Hope you are touched by it too. -Lisa
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 