Cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day. – Joshua 23:8
Today, while walking along the edge of a bluff, my friend and I spotted an old, storm-battered tree just hanging on to the side of the bank—barely attached, but still hanging on! Half of its support had given way as the ground had crumbled beneath it, exposing sturdy thick roots still clinging tenaciously to the remaining soil. It looked like this tree had survived a difficult storm.
This was a vivid reminder of how important it is, when the storms of life assail us, to have roots that go deep. God does not promise to keep us away from storms. If He allowed no dark clouds to gather around and no winds to buffet us, would our “roots” ever grow strong? So often it is through adversity that we learn the most priceless spiritual lessons.
We may face times in our lives when the ones we have depended on turn away. The support system we had grown accustomed to suddenly is not there. We feel alone and vulnerable, and we wonder if we will make it spiritually. It is in these times that we must “cleave unto the Lord” with everything we have. Whatever choices others around us may make, God does not leave us alone. He is always with us, strengthening and supporting us, and helping us to cling to Him. He promises, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
The adversity we face today is training us to be strong in Christ. Let us thank God that He is with us, and hold on!