Sister Tarpley: Oaks of Righteousness

By Sister Tarpley, NDG Religion Editor

“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor” Isaiah 61:3

It was the worst time in my life. Feeling betrayed by God, I stormed out of the door and walked up the heavily wooded hill behind my house. Reaching the hilltop, I raged at God. “God!” I shouted, “Is this how you treat someone who is faithful to You?!  I’ve waited and waited.  I’ve worked and prayed. And for what?  For this?”   My lungs hurt and my throat was raw – but I had one more thing to say to God.  “I hate You, God!  I hate You!”

I sat down on an old oak tree that had broken at the base and was lying on the ground. For the next three hours, I sobbed uncontrollably, unable to speak, unable to pray. I wondered how God could abandon me. I wondered if He even existed. Maybe I had wasted my life believing in a myth.

Finally, I got up to leave.  When I looked over at the fallen oak that I had sat on, I noticed something interesting. The fallen tree was pointed toward the base of another oak tree – a tree that stood strong and tall with wide spreading branches.

At that moment, I heard a quiet voice inside me say, “Today, like this broken oak tree, you are a broken man. But, this brokenness was needed in order for you to become like the large, strong oak tree that stands before you.”

Years later, I would look back and know that God Himself had spoken to me out of my period of darkness and silence. Even when I raged at God and told Him I hated Him, God was faithful and forgiving.

Today, He has replaced the ashes of my despair with the oil of gladness.  He has planted me firmly like a strong and sturdy oak tree, and I live my life in gratitude for His mercy. Do you find yourself in a dark place?  Share your true feelings with God.  You’ll be surprised how well He is willing to listen.

“It’s the simple things…” The simple things in life are the things that can irritate people and the things that can bring them the most pleasure.  Thank God for the small things and the simple things. Like the widow’s mite, a small thing to one person can be great thing to someone else.  Ask God to help you to stop and think before you react to little things that irritate you.

Ask God to help you to always appreciate the simple things of life, for they are truly what that you can enjoy. Thank God for the beaches, mountains, lakes and forests; thank Him for the light and warmth of the sun and the freshness and life in cooling rain.

Thank Him for the wildflower so bright and pretty and the singing bird so beautiful. Thank Him for a child’s love and a pet’s devotion; thank Him for a baby’s breath and an old person’s smile; thank Him for a glass of cold water on a hot summer day.

You could go on and on because there are endless things to be thankful for, but the greatest of all is love. I love you.