An oak at my husband’s family ranch

They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of His splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.

~Isaiah 61:3-4

I woke up one day to the whisper “Oaks of righteousness”. A thought then came to mind: How long does it take for an oak tree to mature? As any Texan knows, unlike fast-blooming (and less-pretty) cedars, the stunning oak takes years to blossom.

Mr. Smarty Plants of Austin taught me that “Quercus virginiana (live oak) trees mature in about 50 years, more or less.”

50 years – why, that’s over half a lifetime!

Exactly.

Sometimes we humans get impatient with our progress, spiritually & otherwise. We berate ourselves, hoping we will change.

But we should give ourselves more credit: We are beautiful growths in progress! Some of us are saplings, while others are approaching maturity, and still others are in-between.

Yes, planting an oak tree takes only a day, but deep roots take YEARS to sprawl out and grow deep enough to withstand drought & storm. And even more time is needed for its branches to provide shade to other creatures.

Why should we be different? God said people would call us oaks of righteousness – because we sprang up fast? Because we’re long & pencil-thin? Because we wave to & fro in high winds? Probably not.

It’s more likely He compared us to the mighty oak because it’s near immovable, STRONG & STURDY from years of growth… years that gave it a solid foundation due to patience, regular watering, sunlight, & the passage of time. According to the City of Austin Arborist:

Texans love their live oaks with good reason. A popular shade tree in Central Texas, the live oak can grow to between 30-80 feet in height. It is often wider than it is high with wonderful sturdy branches that spread horizontally before reaching for the sky, perfect for climbing or maybe a tree house.

Here’s a lesson learned while living on my husband’s family ranch:

The wider an oak tree is, the sturdier its foundation… the more weight it can bear… and the steadier it is when crazy Texas weather hits. That’s some good news. There is a purpose behind seasons of drought, after all!

Cedars, on the other hand, have shallow roots… they (notoriously) spring up quickly but don’t have the longevity that oaks do because an oak’s roots run deep.

The COA Arborist also said this:

Trees that are young, those on shallow soils, and plants under construction stress will be at potential risk of damage unless supplemental watering is accomplished. An intense downpour quickly runs off and small volume rain events will not necessarily end the need to water.

Similarly, the deeper our roots grow, the more we can sustain (& be unfazed by) tough times.

Sprawling Roots…

You know how beautiful & majestic fully-mature oak trees are? That’s what God is making you & me into – something stunningly attractive. Something people will drive by & marvel at for our beauty.

Notice the Scripture says the LORD plants us. We don’t plant ourselves, and we don’t plant each other. He’s in charge of where & when it happens.

But why is He making us into oaks of righteousness? “For the display of His splendor” – not ours. Our strength, peace & joy — especially in tough times — reflect on our Creator and His supernatural work in our lives. We want people to encounter Him because of who He’s planted & grown us to be.  

The passage then says this about us, God’s mighty oaks:

They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Wow, that’s pretty epic! Who wouldn’t want to be part of such a glorious purpose?

But here’s a thought: Maybe He plans to use these actual trees to do the rebuilding? You know, by chopping them (us!) up… whittling & carving them into gorgeous wood floors… sturdy house beams… rooms for people to find shelter in… or ornate wall carvings?

During this process, we must simply remember that He plants us for His honor. And we shouldn’t be surprised if He then uses us as the very substance to rebuild cities… like maybe our very own.

View of ATX from Mt. Bonnell (Thanksgiving 2014)