A Branch Cried Out with Me - Warrior Mom Wisdom - Week of March 15
A BRANCH CRIED OUT WITH ME
I went on a run the other day. It’s winter so it’s very cold in Georgia. The cold weather could not deter my need to burn off the stress that I felt running through my mind and my limbs. I had been working on a difficult chapter for The Warrior Wife Handbook. I was exhausted from the days and hours it took to write it, the spiritual attacks that ensued because of it, the emotions that were spawned because of it, and the weight of the task of completing the book. To put it simply, I was in a horrible mood! I was also tired of circumstances that loomed around me, almost dancing and laughing at me as I attempted to persevere through obstacles.
The Holy Spirit brought this scripture to mind.
Mark 9:23 “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
“Really?!” I said. “I’m sorry for my attitude. I know You are right, because it is not by my ability that I even stand, sit up, run or breathe. You give me breath. You could take my breath in this instant, and I would drop dead. It’s not by me that anything happens. But Dad, I’m tired and worn out, and I need a break through. My family needs a breakthrough. We need an income! I’m tired of money being so tight that I could scream and cry. Still, I thank You for your creativity and helping me make one chicken breast go for three different meals for my family this past week. But Dad, school is too hard; it’s way over my head! I can barely afford my car. Faith will need a car, and there are rats in this attic in this home we are leasing! My nice drapes upstairs are probably being peed on by pesky rats this moment. I’m heart-broken. And Dad, the washing machine and dryer are on their last legs. The washing machine cries out, screams actually, every time we do a load. We need ear plugs it’s so loud. The couch is falling apart…..I’m falling apart. I’m sorry, Dad. I know You told me ‘Until I trust You with nothing will I trust You with everything.’ Dad, are we there yet?! Most times, I’m just silent about it all because I don’t have any energy left to get upset about it anymore. You continue to confirm that You are moving. You continue to show me visions of what You are doing with this ministry. You continue to confirm that what You have said will Be! And You continue to tell me ‘to write.” Who am I that You would chose me to write anything?! But, I will write. I do write because I have been disobedient before, and You were not pleased, and You let me know it. Besides, I remind myself through Your Word that You provide. You have proven time and time again that it is by Your Grace – not by my mere faith that anything occurs. You know this has been a tough lesson for a woman who has lived on faith since the age of five. I’ve put my faith aside! Most days, I focus on your Grace. But today, today I want to scream! You are having me write about very difficult things in the midst of very difficult circumstances, and I’m being attacked because of it. Please Dad, move mightily on my behalf! On my family’s behalf, on the ministries behalf – on behalf of all the women who are volunteering and sacrificing for the ministry - if for no other reason but so that people won’t say you brought me, brought us, this far to have us fall in the desert; for your glory, for your purpose, please bless me, bless us! I know you are. Forgive me for my profound weakness in this moment.”
These back and forth thoughts pretty much dominated my mind the entire five mile run. I heard myself whimper like a puppy a few times. The sounds surprised me. I teared up a few times, but I knew the run was replacing my need to cry. I didn’t want to cry anyway, I wanted a breakthrough. My physical run signified my prayer to continue to run the distance in the Sprit. I had about 2 miles left, and I heard the strangest sound. It sounded like an anxiety scream coming from an ancient dinosaur. I half expected to see a pterodactyl fly above my head. Maybe it would take me off and eat me. I knew I could not be as fortunate as Elijah and see a chariot of fire come to pick me up and take me home.
I knew God wasn’t going to take me home anyway. I knew He wasn’t going to take me home until He finished what He started in me. Instead, I saw a large branch swaying upwards back into position. The wind forced it down, beyond it comfort zone, and it cried out for mercy. I thought about that scripture about the tress clapping their hands, but I knew this tree was crying not clapping (kind of like me). I’m thankful that God’s Grace kept it from snapping right on top of my head. The branch and I had both been spared. I felt less alone for a moment, like even a tree branch knew what it was like to be stretched near the breaking point of one’s limits.
Matthew 15:1-17 “I am the vine, and my Father is the gardner. He cuts off every branch in me that bears not fruit, while every branch that does not bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.
Through these scriptures, God reminded me that He chose me, and it will be Him that completes His purpose in my life. He chose me to go and bear fruit as long as I remain in Him in His Word. I cried out (more like screamed out), He answered, and I continue ‘to write.’
May you be encouraged to know that we all have tough times, but God’s Grace surpasses them all. May you be reminded that the presence of tough times does not mean that God is not in it. In fact, most often, it is confirmation that He is. God’s will can be a very beautiful but hard place. Violent storms in nature often create the most breathtaking sights. The violence Jesus endured on the cross allows us access to the most amazing Dad in all the galaxies. Breakthrough always comes for those who believe. And breakthrough always comes to those who cry out to God in their breaking points.
Mark 9:23 “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Warrior Moms Unite!®
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her recently founded Share & Company Publishing House http://seymourkristina.wix.
