I Need A "Poof Wand" - How About You?

Have you ever wished you had a “poof wand” – you know the kind that the Fairies have in the cartoons. It would make it so easy to do something about the problems that come our way. When some one calls and tells you the tough time that they are going through – you could wave your wand and then “poof” the problem would disappear.

We all know it doesn’t work that way. There is no “poof” that will blow away the “owees” of life. There is no easy button that can be pushed to satisfy the needs that we have.

As I gave some thought to this dilemma that we all face I was looking at our big tree in the back yard. It grows slowly and steady through and around the problems. A blight of some sort attacked on of its branches a few years ago – so it grew new branches to compensate for its loss. Its growth is not something that can be seen in a short glance – but come back after a few months and you will see that it is still growing. Our neighbour near us said he remembers when the tree was smaller but that was over 25 years ago.

The tree watched as the house that stood where our house now stands, burned down. I imagine that it got some ash on it but it still grew on and on. Last summer with the violent wind it lost some branches but it still kept growing. In fact right at this moment the roots are putting out more feelers getting ready to offer more support for next summer.

Instead of a wand I need to encourage the one that is bruised at this moment, things will work out if we are steady as the old tree – and simply remember that God is the best problems solver that we know. Take it to him in prayer.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (New International Version)
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."