When you're up a tree

We recently had another tree cutdown in our yard. We’ve had many trees removed, so the process is not foreignto me. However, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a human being more relaxed thanour fellow who did the job this time. He climbed the tree removing limbs as hewent, and then when he grew tired from using the chain saw, he’d pull out hiscell phone and  I don’t know, scroll social media or something all while dangling sixty feet in the air. I couldn’tbelieve how relaxed he was about the whole thing.

Apparently,  I was not the only one amazed by his behavioras one of my neighbors videoed the whole thing and showed it to her class atschool.

I told him later that he wasprobably the most prayed for guy in our city that day. I had followed the apostlePaul’s admonition to pray without ceasing the whole time he was up there.

But oh, what a lesson hisbehavior was.

I think of the times thatmetaphorically I was left hanging in some difficult and even scary circumstance,not knowing the outcome, and thinking the whole thing could go smashing to theground any second. If only I could consistently remember this guy and his calmattitude in the face of danger. I want my trust and faith to be so strong, I amnot rattled by being caught swinging from a limb.

The Message renders Philippians 4:6-7 this way, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitionsand praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good,will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christdisplaces worry at the center of your life.”

Instead of concentrating on howfar the fall is, we can focus on the Lord and how strong his hold is. I’m sureyou’re like me and want Christ to displace the worries in your life, too.

I have a friend who used to sign offon all his emails with “In His grip.” And that’s the thing, we hold on to him,but more importantly He holds on to us, and his hold is unfailing.

So, let’s hand over what troubles us,turning our eyes to Jesus, alone, and know that we are indeed in his grip.

(Check out our guy hanging in the tree about halfway down in the pic above. May God bless him and protect him in all his jobs.)

 

Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023