by Desiree Bustamante

Standing tall when facing adversity.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

When a tree is struck by lightning the liquids inside the trunk instantly turn to gas, leading to an explosion of bark, but if the outer layer of bark is rain-soaked then the lightning may travel along the outside of the tree, to the ground, resulting in little damage. Sometimes intense lightning bolts split trees in two and cause them to burst into flame from the inside out. Some will die instantly. Some will survive for years, even with extensive injuries, but may be more susceptible to insects, disease, and decay.

Have you ever been struck by lightning? Maybe not literally, but have you ever experienced something so serious or destructive that you felt like lightning struck your very soul? Perhaps that moment changed your entire life. Maybe you knew you’d never be the same again. Possibly your faith in God was noticeably shaken.

Some people give up in the face of devastation and seek out harmful escapes, such as alcohol or drugs, to erase their pain. Some are angry and lose hope, changing everything in pursuit of a fresh start. Some people even turn away from God, blaming Him for their pain, problems, or poor choices.

“You are like mighty Assyria,
    which was once like a cedar of Lebanon,
with beautiful branches that cast deep forest shade
    and with its top high among the clouds.
Deep springs watered it
    and helped it to grow tall and luxuriant.
The water flowed around it like a river,
    streaming to all the trees nearby.
This great tree towered high,
    higher than all the other trees around it.
It prospered and grew long thick branches
    because of all the water at its roots.”
Ezekiel 31:3-5 New Living Translation

Without God’s root system, we could be destroyed by frightening life events. However, spending time soaking in God’s Living Word, and Living Water, helps us grow deep spiritual roots. This builds our faith, and strengthens us, so we will not succumb to adversities, but able to withstand anything we face on this earth. Don’t be the tree that collapses soon after lightning strikes. Your only hope of survival is to hold on to Christ and His promise to see you through any storm.

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”
Ephesians 3:16-18 New Living Translation

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO