By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Where Trees Aren’t Native

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I live in central Nebraska where the plains run rampant but trees struggle to grow. I’ve met with a couple of arborists over the years to salvage or save the trees on our property. Growing up in the hills of Arkansas, I don’t remember trees with disease or dying so easily. In the conversations with the arborists, I found that there are NO trees that are native to this part of Nebraska, not one. As I’m observing all the trees around me, not one is native; therefore, the Zimmerman moth, bag worms, fungus, wind, hail, and more are winning the battle against the trees. We are literally fighting a losing battle. It’s been discouraging for many years to watch trees disappear after fighting hard to save them, but now I’m seeing this a little differently.

God’s nature is a little like the situation above. When we go against the nature of Jesus, we end up fighting a losing battle. Am I suggesting not planting trees? Maybe. If we focused on what does thrive in the ground, we stop fighting the elements around us. Adapting to the nature of God, flowing in the Spirit, is the best way. When we decide we’re going to grow what we want in us, regardless of the consequences, we will not see the fruit that God intended in our life.

“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
John 1:3 New International Version

Planting trees is a little like toddlers who want their own way, throwing a tantrum when it doesn’t go the way they want. Don’t we do this when we are apart from God? I want it the way I want it. I can tell you I’m the most guilty of anyone. I have put my desires above God’s, working around to what I want.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
2 Peter 1:3-4 New International Version

Pay attention when desire takes over and we decide what we want is more important than what God wants for us. It can look like a “good” idea or desire, but it falls short of God’s plan and we can miss what he has for us.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado