Every Ring Has A Story

"And all of the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it."

(Ezekiel 17:24 ESV)

Tree rings are a remarkable phenomenon of nature to behold. Together, all of the rings tell the tale of a particular tree's life. But individually? Every ring has a story, too.

Some rings display seasons of abundance; others display seasons of drought.

Some rings disclose seasons of flourishing; others disclose seasons of pain and suffering.

Some rings reveal seasons of great health; others reveal seasons of serious disease.

Some rings demonstrate seasons of exponential growth; others demonstrate seasons of stagnated growth.

And every one of them bears witness to a tree's development along the way.

We're also able to glean the history of a tree and its surrounding environment through its rings. For example, in some trees, there are rings that bear the scars of wildfires, which clue us into the timing and severity of the event. Other rings reveal how wet or dry the climate has been, which scientists can then correlate with the overall weather patterns of a specific year. And yes, of course, every ring counted up reveals how old a tree is.

All this to say, each ring has a story rich with vivid detail that contributes to the overall picture.

Isn't that amazing?!

Together, all of the rings tell the tale of a particular tree's life. But individually? Every ring has a story, too.

Taking this concept into a somewhat metaphorical space, we can draw parallels between the formation and purpose of tree rings and our personal growth and development. Our lives, in many respects, are made up of these "tree rings", or even more aptly put, "life rings"! How, you ask? Well, there are "tree/life rings" that represent our emotional, mental, and spiritual growth and wellbeing. They reveal the milestones of development along the way in our personal history, and they plot out where we were, where we are, and where we may be heading, too.

To zero in on spiritual growth and wellbeing specifically, each ring demonstrates the measurable growth Christians (like myself) experience in our relationships with Jesus. Every ring marks a specific moment and season in time, so to speak, that tells the tale of our journey with Him and reveals how we have progressed along the way. How cool is that?!

Personally, even though I'm only in my late 30s as of writing this, my "tree/life rings" are a marvelous display of God's astounding work in my life. They exhibit, in measurable form, the growth and development as well as deepening of my faith over time in Him.

Some rings display seasons of abundance; others display seasons of drought.

Some rings disclose seasons of flourishing; others disclose seasons of pain and suffering.

Some rings reveal seasons of great health; others reveal seasons of serious disease.

Some rings demonstrate seasons of exponential growth; others demonstrate seasons of stagnated growth.

And every one of them bears witness that God has been faithful through it all.

Do you see the correlation?

Every ring is a testament to His goodness and faithfulness in growing me as I draw closer to Him. Each one demonstrates how God has used the highs and lows of my life to form and sculpt my character and my identity as His child, a beloved daughter of The King. Each ring of growth cries out in worship and adoration at His amazing grace that's brought me to where I am now. And every single one is a heartfelt thank you to the God of the universe who has saved me from an eternity of all-consuming anguish, despair, misery, and sorrow in hell.

God sovereignly knew, in my lowly and sinful estate, that I could never repay the debt I owed Him. Thus, He sent Jesus, His precious Son and Saviour of the whole world, to come and take my debt upon Himself and bear the penalty of it, which was death on a cursed tree no less (Acts 5:30-32). But the story doesn't end there! He was gloriously raised to life again so that I—I!!!—may accept the grace-kissed invitation extended to me to be with Him in heaven (i.e. the ultimate paradise) someday for all eternity, where the Tree of Life flourishes with unending abundance and blessing (Revelation 22:2). What a beautiful, glorious, and wondrous day and reality that will truly be!

That, for me, makes the entire process of growth this side of heaven ultimately worthwhile. God has undeniably been present in all of it, and it's fascinating to look back at and recognize God's fingerprints all over it, too. He's shaping and molding me into who I am and who He's called me to be. This growth is not caused by me; I'm just the one experiencing it, like 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 points out:

I humbly propose the same is true for you, too! God is causing growth in you, and you're experiencing it!

He is the Lord; He has spoken, and He will do it.

And the same invitation I accepted from God is extended to you as well if you'll receive it.

Let's take time together to discover God in our respective "tree/life rings" so we can see how He's fashioning and growing them and us as a result. Why? Because...

Every ring has a story. And every story matters deeply to God, because you and I are of immeasurable and infinite value and worth to Him.

And every one of them bears witness that God has been faithful through it all.

So, what about you? What tales do your "tree/life rings" tell? What do they represent both collectively and individually? Tell me below in the comments!

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This blog is where you and I will explore what trees and their characteristics reveal about God, humanity, and life. I pray that as you join me here you will see the measurable growth in your own life and see God's loving kindness and faithfulness in all of it.

In the meantime, check out Kelly Polhamus' blog, "Whispers in the Wilderness," and Liz Trickey's blog, "God of My Depths," for more insight into how nature reveals God's character in and to us.