Deep-Rooted (Part 2)

Devin and Kevin McCory were identical twins from a rural area in North Florida. They weren’t always motivated individuals growing up, but they began to see that they had more intellect than they had given themselves credit for as they grew older.

They both went to a small college in Columbus, Georgia and shined among their peers. They were well-liked and active in the community. Like most things in their lives, they attended Columbia University together and acquired their Masters degrees in Business.

A decade later, the brothers had grown a small business into a multi-million dollar investment firm. The twins had achieved so much success at this point that they now worked diligently to invest in the dreams of others.

One day, two Mexicans by the name of Jose and Miguel showed up to see the twins about a financial venture that would require the financial backing of which the twins could provide. The two men brought along with them two hand-size containers and two pieces of rope. The twins were taken aback by the simplicity of what the men were about to introduce and could not begin to understand what business could result from this meeting.

Jose and Miguel told Devin and Kevin of a tree that grew in the Chihuahuan Desert along the U.S.-Mexican border. The tree is short in stature, yet the two men discovered great use for the tree. Its use was discovered when Miguel had suffered heat exhaustion while he and Jose were in the desert. Jose new that Miguel would burn badly if they remained stationary for an extended period of time.

As Miguel lay by a small tree, he noticed the tree had a shiny exterior and was slick to the touch. Miguel then called Jose’s attention to the tree. Jose touched the tree’s bark and a slick resin was now on his fingers. Jose began to rub his fingers together and the resin was smoothly absorbed into his skin. Jose took both of his hands and grabbed the tree, saturating his hands with the resin. He then began rubbing the substance onto Miguel’s body. Miguel felt instant relief from the blistering sun. Not only did he feel instant relief, but his skin had begun to heal by the time they reached their village.

Because they could not uproot the tree, they cut one of its small limbs for further inspection. Miguel made a small rope from the trees’ exterior skin and realized that the rope was stronger than any he had ever seen. They began to collect the resin and skin from the trees and sale it as sun protectant and rope.

The twins were now interested. They applied the resin, which had now been made into a cream, onto their skin and loved it. Miguel and Jose allowed the twins to pull on a tiny little rope that would have surely snapped had it been a regular rope, but they were unable to break the rope made from this little desert tree.

After Devin and Kevin had flown down to see the trees themselves, they invested a million dollars into Jose and Miguel. They decided to grow the tree in a controlled environment with the help of top-notched Dendrologists (i.e. tree scientists); The trees would no longer have to work so hard to find water sources and the soils will be saturated with nutrients.

Three years later, the small trees that grew in the desert had grown beautifully with the help of the twins. They were three feet taller than those that had grown in the desert. The twins were elated by the success of their scientists; Miguel and Jose were not as pleased

Because of their extensive experience with the trees, Miguel and Jose knew that something was not right. Although the trees had grown exceptionally well, the resin from the tree was not the same texture or as plentiful. When they tested the strength of the rope, it snapped under pressures that wouldn’t have done so in the past. The concentration levels in the resin had dramatically decreased and it was worthless as a skin protectant.

Miguel and Jose explained to Devin and Kevin that the tree should have been left alone. The trees useful gifts were made so by its daily struggle in the desert sun. GOD placed it there and did not remove it. He allowed the trees to evolve in the desert by being so deeply rooted, that they were able to tap into a water source deep below the desert surface.

The constant exposure to the blistering heat caused caused the trees to produce the resin they could shield themselves from the heat. When it was placed in a lush environment, absent its adverse conditions, the trees lost their initiative to produce the potent resin; the lack of struggle for the trees produced a rope with no strength.

You see brothers and sisters; our struggles are not in vain. Like these special trees, there is purpose in our struggle. There is strength in our struggle. We must take deep roots in our Lord and Savior and allow him to reveal our purpose.

Isaiah 55:9 says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This is GOD telling us that his plans for our lives are greatly intricate, possessing profoundness far beyond our human understanding. Our job is to remain steadfast in our faith in HIM. It’s not always in the plan for us to understand HIS workings, but our trials are always somehow to our benefit and His Glory!

Bible verses for you today:

⁷ The things God showed me were so great. But to keep me from being too full of pride because of seeing these things, I have been given trouble in my body. It was sent from Satan to hurt me. It keeps me from being proud. 

⁸ I asked the Lord three times to take it away from me. 

⁹ He answered me, “I am all you need. I give you My loving-favor. My power works best in weak people.” I am happy to be weak and have troubles so I can have Christ’s power in me.

My prayer for you today:

Heavenly Father, we have cried out to you to remove us from our trials, not knowing that Your Spirit remains powerful within us during these times. Lord we ask that you strengthen us that we may endure our troubling times and that Your works and will be manifested in our sacrifices. We have faith in Your plans for our lives and we seek only your refuge for endurance. In the Jesus, Amen…

By: C.D. McCloud