“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. But the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:8-11).
It really catches my attention how the different kinds of pine trees can withstand the low temperatures of the winter season, since they are practically the only trees that keep their foliage. Most of the other trees begin to shed their leaves as soon as autumn arrives, and by winter they stand bare, without leaves, looking stripped, dry, and lifeless. The pines, meanwhile, remain upright, green, and beautiful—so much so that people cut them and put them in their homes as Christmas trees and decorate them with ornaments, garlands, and lights, yet they keep their beauty and their fragrance, perfuming the whole house.
Winter is the coldest season of the year, when the days seem to grow shorter, because the hours of sunlight diminish and the nights become longer. The Word of God compares us to trees, and calls us trees of righteousness and the planting of the LORD (Isa 61:3). That being so, winter comes to be the cold season in our lives, when the day is shorter—that is, when there is no clarity about things, we do not understand the unfavorable circumstances that surround us, we do not comprehend the crises we are going through, and we even dare to ask “Why?” In other words, the adversities seem never to end, and we feel alone and we faint when the strong wind of the trial lashes us and it seems that, as trees, we are not going to withstand it. But if we consider something very interesting that the pine does (and this captivated me and spoke to my heart), we will stand in the evil day.
- Pines grow in any environment. They adapt from sandy, poor, nutrient-lacking soils to fertile ones with good sunlight. On an eroded surface, such as on the mountaintops, their roots cling VIGOROUSLY to the deepest rocks, in a desperate attempt to survive. Likewise, we must cling to our CHRIST, the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20), because only he sustains us, instead of resorting to discouragement, depression, alcohol, or anything else that is perishable and vain.
- Pines seek water, because it is what makes them grow (Isa 44:14). Because of this, their roots draw up water, whether from the rain or from the soil. Water represents the Word of God, and it is what gives us growth in God. This tells us that only with the Word can we withstand the “lows” that we may have. Let us read, study, search, meditate on, and apply his Word, because it is the water that quenches our thirst in our deserts (1 Cor. 10:4, Eph. 6:13, 17).
- It is very interesting to know that pines have leaves that group together in leafy branches, and this speaks to us of gathering together and being united with our brothers and sisters (Ps 133:1-3), because in this way we keep warm and can endure difficult seasons, in unity, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (Heb 10:25).
- Moreover, pines, even after being cut, keep their fragrance. Their wood is useful not only in the medicinal field but also for decoration (I am a witness to this), and furniture is built with their wood. This shows us that even in their pain, they perfume the place wherever they go and are useful. In the same way, wherever we go we must, even when broken to pieces, carry the sweet fragrance of Christ (2 Cor 2:15). Glory to God!
The Quote of the Day…
“What seem to us bitter trials are often blessings in disguise” – Oscar Wilde
Prayer:
Father, help us to delight in your Word and to meditate on it day and night; in the good season, but also in the difficult one; in our homes, but also in the church and in any place we go, so that we may be like trees planted by the streams of water, that bring forth their fruit in their season, and whose leaf does not wither, nothing will defeat us (hallelujah!) and everything we do will prosper, in the name of Jesus. Amen
Contribution by: Sister Vianelli Ortiz
