Healing Tree

LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast

into the waters, the waters were made sweet (Ex.15, 25)

There is a lot of consolation for us in the history of Israelites wandering in the desert. They came to a water spring, but the water was bitter and they could not drink it. As usually they started complaining to their leader, Moses, and he cried out to God. The “Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet”. That was the same water, but the taste of it changed.

It is amazing how often Lord is talking to us like then to Israelites. Trials, sicknesses and tribulations are inevitable for the Christians, on the contrary it seems sometimes that they have twice as much as others. But to all of our sorrows Lord responds with the words: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace”. This is our healing tree. Only our Lord Jesus Christ can heal all of our sicknesses and bring consolation in sorrow.

What a spiritual height is there in the words of Apostle Paul: “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Rom.5, 3) And the brighter he’s describing his tribulations, the deeper and stronger he praised that grace, that extreme consolation, which covers all of these tribulations. “We were pressed out of measure… but (God) delivered us… and doth deliver… and will yet deliver” (2 Cor.1, 8-10)

Without fear Paul drank that bitter cup, hoping that as the  sufferings abound “Our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” (2 Cor.1, 5)

Let us not become despondent knowing that  no earthly sorrow can overcome us, because we have enough of His grace in all times.

(Translated from “Every Day is a Gift from God. Diaries of an Orthodox Priest”, author unknown)
Translation by Tatiana Rozzell copyrighted 2009/2010. All rights reserved