Overloaded branches
Last night was kind of scary.
As I took out the garbage in the midst of an ice and freezing rain storm, I heard cracking overhead. Looking up, I saw a tree limb swaying, then falling fast toward the ground. I stepped back into the garage until I heard the branch slam the ice below. Then, cautiously, I moved in to investigate.
The tree branch literally snapped in two. Healthy wood just couldn't take the weight of ice on the branches and limbs. When the weight become to great, it snapped in half and plummeted to the ground.
It wasn't the only branch to do that. Morning's light revealed an even bigger tree branch laying in the backyard. Thankfully, none of the cars were hit, the house was spared and no one was hurt.
But, as I think about it, I notice some spiritual implications too. When the wood was overpowered by the ice, it cracked and fell. Often, we get overwhelmed by the pressures of work, family, friends and yes, even church. We let it build and build and then one day, we snap.
It might manifest as an angry outburst at someone. It could become withdrawing to a quiet place. In extreme cases, it leads to complete shutdown where as humans we struggle to function.
1 Peter 5:7 calls on us to cast our anxiety on Christ. Jesus himself said he did not come to overload us but to free us. Jesus wants our hurts, our struggles, our pressures and our worries because he is a branch that won't break under pressure. He can handle the weight.
Don't let issues build up. Don't keep piling on more. Instead, seek Jesus. Cast your cares on him. Let him hold the weight.
As I took out the garbage in the midst of an ice and freezing rain storm, I heard cracking overhead. Looking up, I saw a tree limb swaying, then falling fast toward the ground. I stepped back into the garage until I heard the branch slam the ice below. Then, cautiously, I moved in to investigate.
The tree branch literally snapped in two. Healthy wood just couldn't take the weight of ice on the branches and limbs. When the weight become to great, it snapped in half and plummeted to the ground.
It wasn't the only branch to do that. Morning's light revealed an even bigger tree branch laying in the backyard. Thankfully, none of the cars were hit, the house was spared and no one was hurt.
But, as I think about it, I notice some spiritual implications too. When the wood was overpowered by the ice, it cracked and fell. Often, we get overwhelmed by the pressures of work, family, friends and yes, even church. We let it build and build and then one day, we snap.
It might manifest as an angry outburst at someone. It could become withdrawing to a quiet place. In extreme cases, it leads to complete shutdown where as humans we struggle to function.
1 Peter 5:7 calls on us to cast our anxiety on Christ. Jesus himself said he did not come to overload us but to free us. Jesus wants our hurts, our struggles, our pressures and our worries because he is a branch that won't break under pressure. He can handle the weight.
Don't let issues build up. Don't keep piling on more. Instead, seek Jesus. Cast your cares on him. Let him hold the weight.
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