Four years ago, I moved to a new housing estate. In front of each house was a maple tree. I noticed that the tree in front of my house was infested with insects, and one day, during a gale, the tree broke at the damaged spot. I gathered up the branches and cut the remaining trunk to the ground.

A few weeks later I noticed a green shoot coming from the stump. Before autumn arrived, the shoot was more than three feet tall. Today the tree has beautifully formed branches and is at least 18 feet tall.

At times our lives may seem broken beyond repair. Troubles may leave us devastated and hopeless. But we have a God who loves us through our brokenness. His grace can remove the debris in our lives and help us to grow into something even better than before. It may take time, but we can trust that God will help us transform our lives into something strong and  beautiful.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for healing the brokenness in our lives. Forgive us and transform each of us into the beautiful person you intend us to be. Amen