Inefficient areas of our lives slough off like pine needles as we continue to experience new growth in God.
My mind was running over with restless thoughts as I walked Blue up our country road. Warm October sunshine peeked through the canopy of pine needles. A crisp breeze whistled through the branches and made me smile. God has a way of doing that, doesn’t He? It’s like He taps us on our shoulder and says, “Hey you! I’m here. Let’s talk.”
We have an amazing God.
And … I’ve learned to listen.
Beneath my feet crunched golden brown pine needles. Nature’s carpet swirled with the breeze. It occurred to me that the pine needles had been sloughed off as dead, even though the pine itself is an evergreen — an evergreen that touts its green needles through a barren winter.
Why would an evergreen have dead needles to slough off?
The scientific explanation is that, as new pine needles are produced in the spring and summer, the less efficient needles turn brown and fall to the ground. Some seasons an abnormal amount of needles fall because of stress factors like drought, root damage, insect damage and herbicides.
I wonder if the same is true for us?
Why do I need to slough off dead areas of my life?
Why do you?
The Lord showed me clearly that ineffecient areas of my life are sloughing off as I continue to experience new growth in Him. Old things are passing away and behold, all things are becoming new. New life. New beginning. New season. He reminded me that He is the vine and I am a branch and if I am bearing fruit, He prunes me.
If I’m not, or if an area in my life is not, He takes it away.
Sloughs it off.
Uses it for mulch in the life of someone else.
Hmmm … that’s it, Lord. Isn’t it?
You use everything in our life as we yield to You. Even those things that are dead or ineffecient that You cause to fall away, can be used for Your glory as we listen for Your guidance. Our lessons learned keep the roots of faith warmed during winter seasons for those who are hurting. If we yield to You. If we are willing to use our pain and struggles and lessons learned to strengthen others.
Blue and I walked on, crunching as we went, thinking in the sunlit breeze.
Selah.
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Are you interested in knowing more about my book, The Perils of a Pastor’s Wife?
Follow this link to Leaving a Legacy to read a great review.
AND
Instead of this interview being about my book, it’s more about me and my faith journey. I would love for you to visit Cup of Goodness to find out more about my relationship with the Lord. God is good, isn’t He?
oh yes. This is true. Just look what I am doing now and what you are doing. Our pain has been to help others!
Yes! And that helps to make it all worthwhile. I’m sorry the link to Leaving a Legacy isn’t working. I”m having trouble with my hyperlinks and have contacted my web people, but haven’t heard back yet. Hopefully they will be corrected soon 🙂