Knocked down but not knocked out...

          I watched an interesting and inspiring video a few weeks ago. It showed a sandy beach with a variety of trees. But, there was one tree that was different. This coconut tree was lying in the sand. There is no indication of what could have possibly happened to throw down this tree, all you see is the end result of whatever had happened to it.
         The interesting thing is, the tree may have been lying supposedly dead in the sand, yet its branches had continued growing. It was not just a bare, dead stump lying in the sand, it was very much a tree full of life. Upon closer examination, you realize that although a lot of its roots had been disconnected from the earth - their source - some of the roots had remained connected and this was how the tree had pretty much continued to prosper and thrive like a regular upright tree.
         This scenario reminds me of some verses in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed.” It doesn’t matter what we go through or what comes our way to knock us down or even knock us out, as children of God, through Christ we are winners. Verse 7 says: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.” Our ability to overcome any and every obstacle that will come our way is not about us and our determination or resolve or ability to fight as hard as we can. It’s about God’s power working in and through us. When we run to God in times of distress, when we turn to Him in the midst of our “valley of the shadow of death,” God steps in and fights on our behalf; He defends us, He wins the battle for us because the battle is not our battle to fight it’s His (2 Chronicles 20:15).
         What I also found interesting was the other trees on the beach. They were all green, one, I noticed was even laden with bright, fuchsia pink flowers. They were a picture of perfection, prosperity and life. Yet, our tree in question was flat on the ground and the death that you would have expected did not exist ... there was only life, just as much life and greenery and beauty like all the other trees around it. In fact, you could not even tell the difference except for the fact that this tree was flat on the ground while the others were erect and standing.
         I just want to put this right here for someone – God is not finished with you!!! Once you remain connected to your Source, just like this tree’s roots remained connected to the earth, even though challenges, tragedies, distress, trials may come your way and you may feel as if you have been knocked down and knocked out, God your source will help you to continue to survive, to prosper, to thrive, in spite of what you have been through and may still be going through.
         I recall once again the story of Naomi I shared last week (Ruth 1-4). Life’s challenges had knocked her down. She was discouraged and had pretty much given up. Yet, from the time she chose to return to and reconnect with her hometown and with her God after losing her husband and two sons in Moab, things started to change. She didn’t expect it, but God showed up for her big time. According to Hebrew culture at that time, if a man died leaving a widow without a son who would care and provide for his mother, his nearest male relative could marry the widow to provide for her and produce an heir for his deceased relative. This is what her husband’s relative, Boaz, did when he married her daughter in law, Ruth, and they produced a child, Obed. This child was, in turn, the grandfather of king David. Both Naomi and Ruth received greater provision and blessings from God than they could have ever imagined as they chose to connect to their true Source - God Himself. He turned their negative situation around and caused them to prosper and thrive in spite of what they had been through. Only God...!!!
         Life happens – both good and bad coexist. However, once we remain connected to our God, no matter what challenges come our way, God will come through for us. As bad as it looks, as much as it seems as if it is the end, God still has the final say. God’s Word promises that we may be knocked down but not destroyed, that the enemy is defeated and the victory still belongs to Jesus. So, I encourage you to make sure you are connected to your Source, focus on Him and He will see you through.
         If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to make that step without delay. We can’t always avoid life’s challenges, so we need a God who will take care of us, who will help us to prosper and thrive in the midst of difficult circumstances.

---