Oak Trees and Pumpkin Patches

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:1-7, ESV). An old poem describes a woman walking through a meadow, meditating on nature. While strolling about, she came upon a field of golden pumpkins. In the corner of the field stood a majestic, huge oak tree. She sat under the oak tree musing on the strange twists in nature, which put tiny acorns on huge branches and huge pumpkins on tiny vines. She thought to herself, "God blundered with Creation! He should have put the small acorns on the tiny vines and the large pumpkins on the huge branches." Nodding off, the woman stretched out under the oak tree for a nap. A few minutes after falling asleep a tiny acorn bouncing off her nose awakened her. Chuckling to herself, she rubbed her nose and thought, "Maybe God was right after all!" I was amused when I read this little story the first time, then I began to think of the implications. I wonder how many times God has proven to us that he is right about our lives? I wonder how many times we have neglected to follow God’s direction for us and received the same results in life? Perhaps it is because when we are faced with the absolute truth of God’s direction, we still question it with “Maybe God was right after all!” That statement is funny in a story, but tragic as a philosophy of life! Trust in God is the only sure means to success. Whenever the Lord assigns us a difficult task, He gives us what we need to carry it out. John Wesley wrote, “Among the many difficulties of our early ministry, my brother Charles often said, ‘If the Lord would give me wings, I’d fly.’ I used to answer, ‘If God bids me fly, I will trust Him for the wings.’” Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee, Trust Him when thy strength is small, Trust Him when to simply trust Him Seems the hardest thing of all. Trust Him, He is ever faithful, Trust Him, for his will is best, Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus Is the only place of rest.