This is a reprint of an article I wrote last year… Enjoy!
It is kind of like becoming a tree
I was staring at a tree the other day just day-dreaming and kind of worrying about how long it was taking to get answers to prayer for a few issues in my life. I was reminded of…
Psalm 1:1-3
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
In my case I have been diligently trying not to “walk in the counsel of the wicked,” and it seems to be making my answers to prayer take even longer. I have been earnestly trying to do things the right way, knowing full well that by cutting a few corners or compromising my values I could make the answers appear faster. The major difference being that I can get mediocre answers doing it my way or the fruit God promises by doing it His way.
The pre-requisite for our fruit bearing from Psalm 1 is that we:
- Do things God’s way
- Stay in the Word
If we do these two things we have the promise that whatever we do will prosper and that we WILL bear fruit IN OUR SEASON.
Trees grow slowly
As I was staring at this tree I began to realize that trees grow slowly. You plant a seed for a tree and it takes a while to sprout and takes a while to grow to a decent size.
Grass and even plants, on the other hand, grow a lot faster. They sprout up quickly and sometimes you can even notice growth one day to the next. I have been enjoying watching this rapid growth with all of the plants in my vegetable garden.
Grass grows fast
Then it kind of hit me that God wants to make me “like a tree.” He isn’t interested in seeing rapid growth that will not make it to the next season and is ultimately unsustainable. A tree, though it grows slowly, becomes a lot more sturdy and is able to withstand challenges that grass and plants can’t.
I am reminded of a storm we recently had that snapped my tomato plant right in half. The plant had grown to about 2.5 feet in a matter of months and was not strong enough to survive when the winds came. God wants to make us strong and sturdy to withstand the storms in our lives.
Psalm 92:7
“That when the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.”
Psalm 92:12
“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”
Trees yield more fruit
I am excited about the tomatoes that my plants will produce this summer, but even the best tomato plant would be lucky to produce 40 lbs of tomatoes in a season. But older mature trees can produce over 1000 lbs in a season.
The downside, of course, is that trees don’t bear fruit 3 months after you plant them like many vegetable plants will. Some trees will take a few years or even longer to bear fruit. I remember the frustration I had with this when I wanted apples from a new tree and learned that I may have to wait a while.
Patience seems to be a rare virtue in our society these days, but it is one that we ought to develop. God seems to like taking the long road with a lot of things and as I begin to see the reason behind it, it causes me to say, “huh, God really is smarter than I am.” 
Trying to be a tree
It’s tough watching the grass sprout up all around you and seeing others bearing fruit when you have been faithfully doing what is right, but we must not be short-sighted. We need to try to look at these things the way God sees them.
Though the tomato plants around us may be popping out some fruit, while we seem to wonder what is taking so long, our day will come. God is doing a work and creating something in us that will be around long after the grass has come and gone.
Galatians 6:9 (AMP)
“And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.”
Related posts:
- 5 lessons from the garden about fruit bearing
- Zecco no longer free
- Pursuit of HappYness
- Whatever you put your hand to will prosper…
- Keep the Top Up: Materialism and Christianity
- The pre-requisite for prosperity
- What is the ROOT of all evil?
- What the Bible really says about prosperity
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This is one of your best posts yet. I feel very encouraged to keep doing what I’m doing.
When I was a piano student in college, I learned how to practice – really practice – for four hours a day. I learned the rhythm of it, the joy of it, spending hours and hours keeping my posture, concentrating on the making the smallest movement of a finger correct, concentrating on bringing out the subtleties of the music. Minute by minute, I was learning to play some of the greatest music ever written.
Christian life is like that. Even when you’re working toward something very big and believing God to change the world, the way to that is by living daily life with excellence – daily hours and daily minutes with excellence. While concentrating on keeping our hearts right and living with wisdom and excellence, God is teaching us to live the life needed to receive his promises.
@Cory
thanks for the encouragement, it is something that God has been showing me lately so I am glad that it helped you as well!!
This is a great post. Recently I was listening to an old sermon from my pastor and he mentioned that his pulpit was made from a harder kind of wood, not a soft wood. But it is made durable and tough by being in a more intense climate – strong winds, ice and snow, etc. But that climate turns it into something useable and valuable.
I think it is an interesting parallel. We go through challenges and hate every minute of it, but God is crafting us into something that has purpose. It’s encouraging that God made things in nature, which we can understand, to reflect things in our spirits, which is more difficult to understand sometimes. I love that He reveals Himself to us in that way.
@rose
that is a good parallel, I think that could turn into another article… And I completely agree about His design of nature – there is so much for us to learn from His creations all around us – His glory shows up in EVERYTHING that He does…
Fantastic post.
So very true. Thank you for writing and reminding me of this. I’m so glad we have a loving God who patiently tries to grow us into something good.
@Robin
thanks! He really is concerned about doing a work in us!!
Great post. Thanks for the encouraging words. I love the analogy of the tree versus grass. I’m reminded of the old proverb: “When is the best time to plant a tree? – 20 years ago.”
GOD IS REALLY IN THIS WRITING ENCOURAGING HIS PEOPLE TO WAIT ON HIM TRUSTINGLY AND TO BE EXCITED HIS MOLDING PROCESS IN OUR LIVES.
And Boy, do we get in the way so many times. I struggled for about two years trying to find a new job and a new place to live. I didn’t understand why God wouldn’t let me escape. But it was because it was me who needed to change. It turns out I needed to be just where I am. Once I realized that, things became a whole lot easier.
I don’t know when this was posted, however I believe that the Holy Spirit guided me to this website today. However I give God praise because after being encouraged by the word and this article I would not mind being a tree in God’s kingdom. God will allow us to produce fruit in it’s season and it will be ripe I don’t want to eat anything that’s npt produce it it’s right season because I may not get the proper nourishments I need. God truly knows best.
@Jenn
very cool! I am it helped you!
Praises to our living God, for His plans and purposes for us stand secure, it is He that wills and work in us, and who can stop Him. His Word is honey for my soul and His ways are all perfect. thank you for this wisdom and revolations,and putting related scriptures together, may God bless you!
All the way here from Namibia!
That’s some good reading … thanks for re-posting it. I’m home sick from church this morning (a true rarity) so this was nice to come across. It’s got points and everything … like a sermon – I’m a pastor’s daughter so these things stick out to me. Sorry for the rambling comment. I just wanted to say thanks
This is so true. Thanks for the post and keeping reminded by God’s grace.
Hi Bob,
You said it very well. I am proud of you in the name of the Lord. It’s great to see a person being a good sheperd guiding people to the right direction in terms of finance.
Thanks so much for this great article! God reveals his plan in his time. I just wanted you to know that he’s using you to encourage and remind others. Again, thanks for the great post and the great blog!