… and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor. — Isaiah 61:3
My favorite wildflower is the Black-Eyed Susan. It reminds me, in a way, of a young woman, dressed in a scarf and plain clothes, hard at work on the farm, yet radiating the kind of quiet beauty that makes a young man think of all the heroics he could do to win her heart. In the same way, the Black-Eyed Susan is unassuming and unpretentious, yet her beauty makes me forget about everything else on the prairie.
Every summer the Black-Eyed Susan makes its appearance here in Wisconsin. It’s here for a little while, then it wilts away.
But when God makes people beautiful, he follows a different path. He plants oaks of righteousness. What is an oak? An oak stands strong year after year. It weathers every kind of storm.
I did some research on the web and discovered that a 1998 storm felled a 373 year old oak in Ohio — considered the oldest tree in the U.S. east of the Mississippi River. And, according to one article, there are oaks in Israel that are thought to be 800 years old. God expects His work in us to last!
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.