THE ICY GNARLY ELM

The icy, gnarly elm alone
in the dell, just beyond the spruces,
has taken on to moan and groan
and wonder of her uses;
to worry in the winter scene
where none but harshness grows—
and the cold wind blows.
 
Yet even so, the elm stands firm,
though the weighted ice is building.
And there lies at core a diseasing worm,
as the branches soon are breaking.
Forbidding is the winter scene
in which all things are made weak—
where the plight looks bleak.
 
But there is remembrance of who one is,
as the sun shines on and sparkles.
Even through the strain and brittleness,
there is reason yet for marvels.
Hostile may the winter scene become
and the stressful toll long—
but her trust is strong.

 

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

 

THE ICY GNARLY ELM

Winter has arrived, here in Veery Glade. Ice and snow covers the branches of maple, beech, and old gnarly elm trees. Only evergreens provide a dash of green color against the white backdrop of land and sky. We are locked in the grips of winter.

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Psalm 51:9

The battle with sin involves true repentance, which is turning away from sin. When there is no regret or remorse for one's wrongdoing, a submissive heart and mind to the Lord is not happening. When life continues in a sin-bent way and there is no sorrow for it, the opportunity for a change to a clean heart and renewed mind won't occur. The old has not gone away but remains. Nothing has been blotted out but is seen.

But there is hope. Remember the words Paul spoke as revealed to him by God?

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1 Corinthians 5:17

Change. That, my dear forest reader, is what being saved is all about! Like a butterfly becoming a fluttering flowery figure from a gravelly ground-crawling caterpillar, a change occurred.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

The heading of Psalm 51 is a Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him after he had sinned with Bathsheba. David expressed sincere confession before the LORD. He defined his sin and appealed to God's mercy. He acknowledged that God was right and he had been wrong. (Trying to justify a wrong is not the thing to do.) Looking to the Author of his faith, he asked for healing. He was comforted by God and rejoiced and announced truth. And then, he resolved to obey. Obedience would be David's way instead of making the same mistake again.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalm 51:17

Here's a reaching analogy but it makes sense to me: in physical training and wanting to become stronger, exercise breaks down muscle. In recovery, the muscle has a chance to rebuild. To lose that proud heart and the heart who thinks no sin is in them, a breaking point must be reached, which includes an admittance of error. We cannot enter Heaven on our own merit. Honor God with a contrite heart. He will not despise it.

I encourage you to read all of Psalm 51! It is a Psalm of repentance. With no heart change because of what Jesus, the Son of God, did on the cross, the unchanged heart will go to where unchanged hearts go. And that is hell. 

 

An elm tree holds up in the winter landscape. So we endure trials. We trust through prayer and lean not on our own understanding. Even when others scoff at us, we keep on praying. We know it is written that maintained confidence in the Lord will be richly rewarded. God is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him—who pray believing.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

 

God waits/suffers long for as many as will willingly choose to repent.