A Tree of HOPE

Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Jeremiah 8:22

It was a day in early May when I encountered a whopper of a splinter from one of our ornamental grasses that was growing awry. I can still remember feeling it deep within my index finger. No matter how much I soaked it, poked it, nudged it, or budged it, that piece of plant wanted a piece of me. Then, came all the irrational worries… Will it become infected? Will I need to see a doctor? Will the doctor need to perform surgery to remove it? Ugh!

Fortunately, I had a session with one of my super smart clients who gave me a sample container of salve. After using the salve for three days, I woke up on Mother’s Day with a strange feeling in my finger. Being blind as a bat without contact lenses, I brought my finger closer to my face and discovered the splinter emerging from my skin. I couldn’t believe it! With some assistance from my hubby, the half-inch splinter was set free, and my finger was on the mend. That whopper of a splinter became a whooper of a Mother’s Day gift… removing pain and worry, replacing those emotions with healing and HOPE.

My Mother’s Day miracle gift prompted me to learn more about salves, balms, resins, and ointments. It should be of no surprise that God planted a story of HOPE when that splinter planted a place in my hand. Jeremiah 8:22 talks about a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul (as the popular hymn goes). Shocker… there was a very special tree in Gilead containing resin that produced a very powerful ointment. As the story goes, that ointment was associated with miracle cures… healing and HOPE… a tree of HOPE that cured people’s physical illnesses.

Not only was that balm powerful, but it was very precious. It took all day to gather 40-60 drops at most. Prior to my splinter adventure, I couldn’t imagine waiting all day for 60 drops of ointment. However, since my splinter escapade, I would wait all day to apply a balm to free a splinter from my body. While my salve wasn’t from a tree in Gilead, it was somewhat miraculous seeing that splinter emerge from my finger after being lodged within for over a week. It was like I gave birth to a foreign object on Mother’s Day… of all days.

While that tree in Gilead gave HOPE with physical healing, another tree gave the entire world HOPE for their soul. While we hesitate, even hate to admit it, our souls are sick with sin. Of course, we all have good days when we sin less than our bad days. However, in God’s eyes, we are sinners regardless of the day or the sin. Even our thoughts are sinful.  God knew we would be tempted to sin, would entice others to sin, and would be full of sinful ways. God hates sin. However, His love for us is greater than His hate for sin. He lovingly sent His only Son, Jesus to save us from our sinful ways… to save us from an eternity of torment in hell. YIKES and AMEN!

Yes, while that tree in Gilead healed physical maladies (don’t I sound smart?), another tree held Jesus while He died on that wooden cross to heal our souls. The drops of blood streaming down His beautiful face from the crown of thorns placed on His beautiful head represents the healing balm for our souls… healing and HOPE. Jesus is our balm in Gilead, healing our sin-sick souls from jealously, lies, gossip, hate, theft, adultery… you name it… we are all guilty of it.

I am in awe that Jesus would willingly go through the torment, torture, and death to heal my soul… to save me from eternal damnation so that I can spend eternity with Him. He saved me, with all my sinfulness, ill thoughts, and selfish ways to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. And just as He saved me, He can save you. He can heal your soul with His blood-balm that was shed on the cross… on that tree of HOPE. This eternal balm is ready for you… the balm is now in your court. All you must do is ask with a repentant heart. You don’t need to wait all day for drops… it’s at the Pharmacy of Eternity ready for you to pick up. God’s pharmacy is open 24/7, 365.

Yes, all you must do is believe Jesus is your Savior and you will find healing HOPE. There is no right or wrong way to ask, but if you still need words to fill the void in your heart, I have words you can borrow. You can start by saying: Lord Jesus, I ask You to forgive my sins and save me from eternal separation from God. By faith, I accept Your work and death on the cross as sufficient payment for my sins. Thank You for providing the way for me to know You and have a relationship with my heavenly Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life… the way to true healing and HOPE. He will heal any splinter you experience, feel, or bear. You no longer need to feel splintered from God. Jesus is the balm bridge who connects us, with all our physical and spiritual maladies, to our heavenly Father. He is our eternal HOPE that died on a tree of HOPE… for you and for me.