I first read the story when I was an incoming first year HS student and I've always treasured it ever since. I cannot recall the story in verbatim but I could tell you the gist of the story.
It goes this way:
The story is actually a reflection of our relationship with God. There are a lot of us, me included, who will not hesitate to say that I believe in God and that I trust Him. There are a lot of us who has been brought up in devout Christian families who goes to church 3-5 times a week, prays regularly, does all the good works, gives our tithes and offerings to the church and so on. Yet, when God tells us to trust in Him we prefer to follow our stubborn minds instead.
If the man let go of the tree right away he could have saved himself from the pain, exhaustion and humiliation. Yet he did not because he could not believe that by letting go of the tree he would live.
Sometimes I am like that man. I pray to God, I say I trust him and yet when God tests me I start to doubt. They say faith is believing in something that you cannot see. Its believing that you can breathe even without seeing the air. Its believing that you will be saved even when you don't know by whom and when.
One of the things I learned in my life is not to question God's plan in your life. No matter how much you try to control things, God will always have the last say. You just have to trust Him and cast your burdens to Him because He will allow things to happen according to His purpose.
Many times in my life I questioned God's plan for me. Sometimes, when I am in so much pain I would cry and pray to Him and ask Him what He really wants to do to me. A lot of times I asked God what's His plan in my life is, why He lets things happen as they are, why He never did anything to stop it from happening, why He would allow me to get hurt when He was the one who wanted me in this world in the first place.
Then I would look back at all the things that happened to me and I would realize that God is teaching me a lesson and making me tough for the greater challenges that awaits me. He allowed people to hurt me and desert me because He wants me to be strong and learn to stand firm when things starts to get rough.
God will not let things happen without a reason. You just have to trust Him to guide you and keep you safe and strong as you go on your journey. All else may fail but Faith will always keep you going.
It goes this way:
A man was driving home late one night. When he had an accident. The man is a Christian. He was raised in a Christian family, he studied in Christian schools. He goes to church, he prays, needless to say, the man is a devout Christian.
As his car fell into the edge of the cliff, the man was able to get out of the car and managed to cling on a branch of a tree. He was so scared that he started praying to God to deliver him from his predicament. He prayed so hard and sincerely that God answered him.
God said, "If you believe in me, let go of the tree"
The man was bewildered. He did not let go, instead asked God why He wanted him to let go when he had been a faithful servant of God all along.
The man said, " I had been faithful to you Lord. I go to church regularly. I give tithes. I pray. I do good things, why are you abandoning me now?"
God answered the man, "If you trust me, let go of the tree"
The man still refused to let go and held even more to the the branch of the tree.
This went on for hours and the man began to get tired. His arms were aching already from being suspended for so long. But still, he refused to let go. He closed his eyes and waited for help to come.
When daylight came, the man opened his eyes and looked down from where he is hanging. He was so surprised to find out that he is barely a foot from the ground.
The story is actually a reflection of our relationship with God. There are a lot of us, me included, who will not hesitate to say that I believe in God and that I trust Him. There are a lot of us who has been brought up in devout Christian families who goes to church 3-5 times a week, prays regularly, does all the good works, gives our tithes and offerings to the church and so on. Yet, when God tells us to trust in Him we prefer to follow our stubborn minds instead.
If the man let go of the tree right away he could have saved himself from the pain, exhaustion and humiliation. Yet he did not because he could not believe that by letting go of the tree he would live.
Sometimes I am like that man. I pray to God, I say I trust him and yet when God tests me I start to doubt. They say faith is believing in something that you cannot see. Its believing that you can breathe even without seeing the air. Its believing that you will be saved even when you don't know by whom and when.
One of the things I learned in my life is not to question God's plan in your life. No matter how much you try to control things, God will always have the last say. You just have to trust Him and cast your burdens to Him because He will allow things to happen according to His purpose.
Many times in my life I questioned God's plan for me. Sometimes, when I am in so much pain I would cry and pray to Him and ask Him what He really wants to do to me. A lot of times I asked God what's His plan in my life is, why He lets things happen as they are, why He never did anything to stop it from happening, why He would allow me to get hurt when He was the one who wanted me in this world in the first place.
Then I would look back at all the things that happened to me and I would realize that God is teaching me a lesson and making me tough for the greater challenges that awaits me. He allowed people to hurt me and desert me because He wants me to be strong and learn to stand firm when things starts to get rough.
God will not let things happen without a reason. You just have to trust Him to guide you and keep you safe and strong as you go on your journey. All else may fail but Faith will always keep you going.
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