Scriptures of Encouragement ~ The Parable of the Pine Needles

Rusty gold pine needles carpeted the winding mountain road. The gusts of wind from an approaching cold front came strong and sure, buffeting the needles, sending them swirling into the underbrush where they settled for a cold winter's rest.

I felt the nudging of the Holy Spirit. "Lord, what is the message here? What are You trying to show me?"

I stood still, bracing myself against the wind. As I watched the pine needles, I pondered the ways of God. I thought of His eternal purposes in all things. I thought of His resurrection power. I thought of how we must die in order to live...and then I thought of Ecclesiastes Three:

"To everything there is a season, 

     A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

     A time to plant and a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

     A time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; 

     A time to mourn, and a time to dance..."

A time for pine needles to feed the tree, 

     And a time for them to gather to insulate the earth;

A time to make regular deposits in a bank,

     And a time to trust God for every morsel of food;

A time to minister to the needs of others,

     And a time to receive ministry from those who love us.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven - an eternal purpose in all things.

In their deadness, the rusty gold pine needles surrendered to the blustery wind and settled where it commanded. In their own little pine needle way, they embraced their purposes for this season. It's because of their deadness, their brokenness of falling, and their promenade at the hands of the wind - it is because of those circumstances the pine needles carry on their purpose. For the winter season, their steadfastness in God's plan will blanket the earth against the bitter cold, protecting and preparing the soil for the new growth come spring.

I'm learning to surrender to the blustery wind of winter - the wind who carries the voice of the Lord into my broken, dead places. It's in the surrender that we find the purpose. It's in the surrender that the brokenness protects and prepares our hearts for the new growth come spring.

It's in the surrender. SELAH

*Photo credit: sudburytrails.info



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