“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away,

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Cor. 4:16 (NIV)

 

One of my favorite things about fall is enjoying the beautiful changing colors of the leaves.  There’s nothing like a long bike ride down a scenic trail of natural beauty to calm the soul. My husband and I particularly enjoy taking the top off our jeep and riding through the mountains as we take in the breathtakingly scenic views of color.  I always come back from one of those rides feeling peaceful and hopeful.

What we see as beautiful is really the dying process of the leaf.  Even though the process we see results in beautiful, vibrant colors – the leaf is giving everything it has to the tree.  It is surrendering its life in that season.

As believers, we can display the same beautiful colors as the leaves with our faith.

It’s no secret that life can be cruel.  It can shatter our hearts in a moment and leave us gasping for breath – unsure of what will come at us next.  One minute our life is planned out for us and in the next minute – everything is gone. The landscape can be changed so drastically that there’s nothing left to go back to.

There will be times in this life that we will have to surrender our dreams and the way we “thought” life would be.  Surrender is not giving up on life, it’s just accepting that there was a purpose and plan beyond our own individual understanding – and acknowledging God’s will over our own.  Even though we may think (and feel) the brokenness will kill us, surrendering our lives to God’s greater plan will bring about a peace (and Hope) that renews us daily.

The leaf dies out to a greater purpose – that of the tree.  As the leaf dies it will show off every color that was put in it before it dies, as long it’s connected to the tree.  And in a different season new life will appear where the dying leaves once were.

If we hold onto our faith and keep taking that next step, one day at a time, sometimes even one minute at a time; even our most painful seasons can become something of beauty to others.

We are God’s testimony in the ways we live.  Just like the leaf, He put a lot of beautiful things in us when He formed us in our mother’s womb. Others are watching us in our journey, and when we allow the light of God to shine through us, our colors show off in the way we live.  In our daily actions of showing love, comfort and hope to others.  Even though our own lives aren’t what we had planned. The simple truth is peace and pain can co-exist in a person’s life.

If we don’t let go of our Hope in Him, He will breathe new life into us and allow every beautiful thing that is in us to make a magnificent display for the Kingdom.

 

Father help us to hold onto You today no matter how much life hurts.  Help us to surrender our dreams into Your safe hands. 

For we know that You will renew us and allow us to display our colors for Your greater purpose.

 

My Hope Endures,

Laura Holmes, M.A.

Founder/Director, Ephraim Ministries

www.EphraimMinistries.org