For There Is Hope

“For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant” (Job 14:7-9).

Holy Father and our Lord Jesus, in this scripture You tell us of a future hope, even though we cannot see it. When polka-dotted trials come, we feel as this tree, maimed, cut down, without life and downed by a seemingly lethal blow yet, you promise we WILL sprout branches again. Even though the root grow old in the earth, we Will not die, but tender shoots WILL sprout. Christ was also called the tender branch that sprouted. “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11: 1-2). The water is nothing other than Your effervescent Holy Spirit that quickens the heart of man.

Awaken us, Dear Lord with the holy fragrance of Your Spirit. Teach us to abide in You and drink deeply from Your water. For You are the vine and we are the branches. If we abide in You and You in us, we will bear much fruit, for apart from you, we can do nothing (John 15: 5). Moreover, we are not to be content with a poor shriveled bunch of grapes that are more like marbles than grapes, here and there growing on a half-nourished stem. Help our union with you be strong resulting in “much fruit.”

We pray for the nations that you will bring a harvest. We pray that others will see Your goodness and grace in us. Grow us into a strong and healthy branches, full of fragrant blossoms and much fruit. We pray that you will give us a desire to tell Your story, the Good News of Christ; the Good News of reconciliation, rescue and freedom from shame and humiliation.

Move mightily, Lord, and bring workers to the harvest (Luke 10: 2). In the mighty and precious name of Jesus. Amen