Midweek Encouragement - "Could This Be a Year of Uprooting?”

"Could This Be a Year of Uprooting?"

“You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.”

Exodus 15:17

         On the Friday before Christmas, we, here in east Harrisburg, received almost two inches of rain in a very short period of time. That’s no big deal . . . usually. But as soon as the rain stopped, tremendously fierce winds started to blow. While I was resting in my Laz-E-Boy, relaxing because I had everything prepared for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services, I heard a loud CRACK! Looking out our patio door, I saw one of our neighbors’ fifty-foot tall pine trees laying in our yard. It had fallen just short of our roof and deck and missed our old shed and swing set completely. The wind had uprooted that huge tree with a vengeance! It reminded me of God’s people, the ancient Israelites and their temporary stay in Egypt.

         Egypt wasn’t that great of a place for the Israelites, but it was home. Egypt had been their home for generations . . . 430 years to be exact (Exodus 12:40). They had put down roots. They had planted gardens. They had raised their families there. It was home.

         But Egypt wasn’t the right home for God’s people. They were enslaved by Pharaoh, forced to work on his massive construction projects, and treated very poorly indeed (Until that last phrase, maybe you were thinking about your wife and the to-do list you haven’t finished). God had better plans for His people. In time, He uprooted them and took them away from their home in Egypt. He gave them a better home, planting them in just the right place . . . the Promised Land.

         When God uproots His people, He does it with a plan and a purpose. Maybe God has physically uprooted you from your home. Perhaps God has uprooted you from your job. Maybe He’s uprooted a relationship or some plans you’d made for the New Year. An uprooting can be painful. It hurts and it can tempt you to think God is being needlessly harsh.

         It might be hard to see at the time, but God uproots us in order to plant us in the right place. As you allow the Holy Spirit to work in you this year, God will uproot you from your sin and brokenness. His heart’s desire is to pull you up out of a bed of death so He can plant you in a garden of life. It was Jesus who said, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

         When you gave your life to Christ Jesus, God planted you in Him. Deeply! Securely! In Jesus, you can have confidence that you’ll live someday in His Promised Land. Your eternal home is with your Savior in the land of life.

         Knowing that should give you hope and peace for the times here on earth when you’re uprooted. Yes, uprooting can hurt. Yet, God uproots His people so they can set down eternal roots with Him in exactly the right place. Are you anticipating an uprooting this year? Trust God that He knows exactly what He’s doing!

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this email with anyone you choose. And if for some reason you'd like to stop receiving PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send me an email (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.