If we were to do an honest personal assessment of ourselves, most of you would admit that there has been at least once in your life that something or someone has driven you to a hollow place of feeling small, unimportant, insignificant — and in the deepest depths of your being — valueless. Children bullied often, feel this way.  Yet at times, adults have these very same feelings.  Jesus illustrates, while utilizing the image of a child to settle an argument among his disciples about who would be the greatest in Luke 9:48 saying, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great (NASB).”  For a moment, think about that time in your life.  I will admit that I have felt like The Puny Tree—smaller than a Charlie Brown Christmas tree—with a couple branches and a few leaves among a grove of beautifully cultivated and towering oak trees.

However, we must remember that God’s very first loving act towards us is that He created mankind in His own image (Genesis 1:27 NIV).  Of course, our feeble minds can’t begin to conceive the absoluteness of this truth;  of how very precious our Father God views us — so unfortunately some of us answer these times of emotional dilemma and internal conflict with severe bouts of depression, separation from those who we know love us most, and sometimes even anger.  Others mask these feelings of void by inserting actions of perfectionism, engaging in unhealthy relationships, even alcohol and drug use, all of this to suppress those feelings of insecurity.

One Sunday after worship, God revealed to me something about that place, which I call The Puny Tree — revealed in a most practical, yet memorable way.  Anyone who knows me understands that although I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout, Tracey is NOT the outdoorsy type.  A garden lover, I am – but do not look for me to be creating and tending to a beautiful garden successfully.

Yet, God used a puny tree to physically illustrate to me how He is ALL the strength I need – no matter what I am facing and no matter how puny and insignificant I might believe myself to be, or have allowed others to make me feel.  In the midst of all I was personally battling — at the time, I certainly wasn’t feeling His strength.  So, from the depths of my heart I cried out to the Lord, and He answered me with… a broken pipe!

 Living in a community where beautifully matured trees and water pipes are oftentimes at odds, Part two of The Puny Tree reveals a powerful illustration of the old adage, “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” and how there IS hope for the strength you need no matter what the obstacle or how puny you may feel at times.  Be encourage my friend.