This Little Flicker of a Tree

Sometimes dread tries to drive a wedge between joy and hope’s promisesSometimes it tries to trump the pledge of mercy’s renewed faithfulnessOr darken the doorway of dawn with doubt and fear for the unknownUntil I hear the voice of One who whispers ‘You are not alone’ Sometimes the weight of creature care could rob me of would-be delightLove’s load in constant need of prayer, life’s road a walk by faith, not sightSometimes the winds and waves of love could defeat courage thoroughlyUntil I am reminded of ‘no longer I, but Christ in me’ Sometimes a formless enemy hisses and kindles vain debateThis liar tries to threaten me with Logic while God whispers ‘wait’Where sometimes discouragement bends this little flicker of a treeUntil I cry to God who sends angels to minister to me © Janet Martin Jer.17:5-8This is what the Lord says:“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,who draws strength from mere fleshand whose heart turns away from the Lord.6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;they will not see prosperity when it comes.They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,in a salt land where no one lives. 7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,whose confidence is in him.8 They will be like a tree planted by the waterthat sends out its roots by the stream.It does not fear when heat comes;its leaves are always green.It has no worries in a year of droughtand never fails to bear fruit.” This cross in the sky felt like a tangible whisper this morning!! Psalm 147:1Praise[] the Lord!For it is good to sing praises to our God;For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. - Dr. Charles Stanley