“I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
ISAIAH 41:19–20
Trees growing in a forest may be mostly the same species, or they might be a mixture of several varieties. Some trees require specific conditions, and others seem to sprout up just about anywhere. Occasionally we are surprised to see a tree growing where it seems that nothing more than moss or lichen could survive. These trees, which seem to grow out of solid rock, do not grow quickly in trunk size. They don’t reach high toward the heavens, and they don’t produce a heavy cone crop. But they do serve a purpose.
The seed of that tree probably landed in a crack where just enough soil had collected to allow it to germinate. As the roots reached down, they most likely followed tiny cracks until they reached a source of water. The root system filled the cracks in the stone and started to spread them farther apart as the roots grew. The steady pressure forced the cracks open, allowing more soil and moisture to trickle down. The tree is helping break down the rock and form more soil.
We all know of missionaries and pastors who might feel like a tree growing in a rock. They may be trying to plant a church or grow a congregation in a hard, spiritually dry location. There may be a lot of resistance. They too are doing important work, sowing seeds that may take long years to show any noticeable growth. Proverbs 11:30 tells us, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls” (NASB).
These pastors and missionaries need our encouragement. They may be thirsting for a kind word or a small gift from home. Sometimes a note will bless them more than we can imagine. And of course, we can pray for God’s grace and provision for them.