The Trees Are Applauding Me!

Photo by Carla Kimball

There is a famous passage in Isaiah that you all know: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Often when I let vexation and stress push me into the Pit of Illusion I’m able to crawl out by thinking about how God’s ways are not the ways of the mortal world. I’m often able to push away the vexation by remembering that God is in charge and while I might not understand, He will make all things work for my good if I just trust in Him.

The passage in Isaiah goes on to say that those who trust in the word of God will “go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12). I don’t take this to mean that trees will actually applaud. Instead I take this verse to mean that if I just relax—stay out of the Pit and its accompanying worry, vexation, and stress—things will work out. Someone will cross my path with the very answers I need to solve my problems. Someone will call or come to me with the very words of encouragement I need to press on and endure. Someone will teach me the very principles I need to progress at the very time I am ready to move on. What most people call happy coincidences will abound if I walk in Truth and stay far away from the Pit of Illusion.

In the meantime, I imagine trees applauding my efforts and mountains serenading me. Those happy thoughts bring a warmth to my countenance that sustains me and keeps me out of the Pit.