The Trouble Tree

The Trouble Tree
June, 2020
It has tested my parenting limits to deliver my fear ladened, obstinate child to his doctor’s appointment today. As I wait for him, a thought, unbidden, pops into my mind: “Give thanks for your trouble tree.” I wonder at this as I think, “Seriously?” “Right now?”
“Ok.” I whine and give it a try. I open my Chromebook to write but I can’t get access. It takes multiple frustrations to even start and I come precipitously close to the edge of my perceived endurance.
My trouble tree is looming heavy with fruit. It blocks my view in seemingly every direction. I feel my threshold for inconvenience, for frustration, for rational thought ebbing away. I raise a hand to grasp for a cool, calming drink but the sharp pain of my shoulder injury fills my eyes to bursting. I long to empty my screams out into the waiting room but my mind explodes with heartbreak instead as I step outside into the heat.
I am full of anguish and turmoil and I find myself yelling: “I can’t do this, it’s too much”.
As my struggle floods down my face and my fists clench against the pain, I plead, “Too many troubles at once. I can’t do this!”
Sobbing, I cry out, “One at a time would be a challenge but more, together? Impossible!”.
I fight and yell but even in the midst of all my bluster I can still hear another, softer voice that quietly tells me, “Of course you can do this. You just don’t want to.”
The voice continues, “Have I not told you I will not allow more than you can bear?”
This voice abruptly stops my tears as I recognize the truth and it leads me to the trouble tree, at last.
The Trouble Tree
When I am weary and heavy ladened, God bids me to come and meet Him at the trouble tree. There He asks me to hand Him my bundle of troubles which He gently takes and hangs on the tree. He then takes my hand in His and He walks with me in the garden. In the cool of the day, hand in hand, He walks with me around the enormous, strong boughed, ancient, heavy ladened tree.
After a time of silent reflection, He stops and looks up into the branches. “Is there a trouble bundle that you would rather have?” He asks softly.
My spirit jumps with butterflies, “Surely,” I think, “There must be a lighter, less troublesome trouble bundle that I could pick…”
So I choose one that is small and shriveled and hard. When I try to carry it, it is far too heavy for me and I drop it to the ground.
“Those are yesterday’s troubles,” He tells me. “Adding them to today’s will be too much to bear.”
I return it to its place and next, choose a medium sized dark, one but it is too much for me as well. I look up into His eyes and we silently agree that tomorrow’s troubles are not the best choice either. I continue to try on various other bundles but they are also not easier to bear until I come full circle and pick a bag lighter than all the rest…
It is, of course, the bundle I placed there myself. I do not remember it being this size or shape. It seems packed and ungainly but somehow lighter, easier to bear.
“How can this be?” I think, “It was only just placed there?”
In answer, though I have not spoken out loud, my Lord says:
“Troubles are uniquely designed to bring light to your dark places so that, as the Psalms 36:9 says, “In My Light, you see light.” It is here at My side that healing begins.”
“Come to Me,” He says as He motions with His hand to join Him, “all ye who are weary and heavy ladened and I will give you rest.”
“Take My yoke, My bundle of troubles, upon you and learn from Me. For My Yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Back at the Doctor’s office, calmer, breathing steady and slow, I consider His words.
Troubles break through the cracks in my armour to bring light to the dark, wounded places that I often hide away from God and even from myself.
Troubles bring light to the lies I tell myself. Lies like when I pretend to be strong in my own power, are, in His light, shown to be the deceptions they are.
His strength floods in when I recognize the folly of my ways and trust in His ways; when I am reminded that He is FOR me.
I now understand why I was asked to give thanks at the Trouble Tree, especially today. giving thanks in all things because His light is coming! Coming to mend my needy places and display His power in my healing.
Will you join Him at the trouble tree too? Will you spend some time with Him and your bag of troubles. Open it up. Take your troubles out one at a time. Explore and/or explode them in all their raucous bluster, and share them with your Savior. Tell Him what you have found, how you feel. Place each of them in His hands, claim His promises and see how He leads you into healing and rest.
With each visit to the Trouble Tree you will gain His strength so that when fear next comes knocking, You will begin to believe that you can say, “No!” No to fear!
You will begin to confidently chase it away, “Fear, you are not welcome here anymore!” because in His light you will have seen light and in His light there is no room for the darkness of fear…He promises.
Visit the trouble tree as often as you need until His work in you is complete. It is a hard journey of thanksgiving, struggle and blessing but when you choose the trouble tree way you will find that He is always there waiting for you.
Pray more, Fear Less,
Anne Braudt