“What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!” This is the first line of Psalm 1 in the Passion Translation. I can say with certainty that despite the times of trial or trouble, there is always, in every season, a sweet delight in knowing the Lord. In loving Him and following  His ways. My ways may be uncertain, my path unsure, but that Still, Small Voice, the Umpire of God’s peace that resides in my heart will guide me safely through each and every season. I need only to put Him first, and not lean on my own understanding.

 

This kind of surrender brings a lasting stability, so that through the decades we have seen mountains move, locked doors open wide and always the great comfort/delight of knowing we are not walking these paths alone. That each time Jesus asked us to get out of the boat and walk on the water, He was there in the midst of the storm, making sure we did not sink. Such knowledge, such surety is without price, without measure.

 

The psalmist goes on to say the follower is a flourishing tree standing firm, planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the streams of water. We absolutely did not plan this life! Such a thought makes me laugh. How could we have? God took two ordinary people from loving but ordinary families and sent them, sent us, all over this world. Between us we have ministered on 5 continents, in 25 countries. We are blessed to have loved and been loved like family by people all over this world.

 

I have always loved trees. Great big glorious trees with leaves to shelter us and bird and animals. Trees speak of permanence, of not being easily moved or uprooted. Such a tree was just outside our front door when I was a child. Our house was a tiny home, almost like a dollhouse. That tree towered above us and, in my child’s mind, protected us. Its roots were deep and strong, it had been standing many years before our tiny home was built beneath it. Strong roots=long life in tree years.

 

Our tree, the tree of our lives, has deep roots in the River of Life, fed and nourished by the Word and the Spirit. We are blessed to have had our roots deeply planted by pastors and leaders in our younger years who also knew how to live this surrendered, deeply planted life. Their compass in all things was the Word of God.

 

Praise God for such deep, healthy roots that to this day bring us life and stability! And you have that, too, living in the deeply surrendered life.

 

~ Debbie Ecker