God gave me something really cool this weekend regarding Entangled. Well, lot’s of things but I want to share this one. You’re going to have to read an excerpt of a chapter though to get the gist of it. The following is from the beginning of the Love chapter.
A flower, watered by the rain, grew on the side of the riverbank. When the rain stopped, it reached through its roots to the river. The flower bloomed like never before. In time, the river dried up and the flower wilted until the rain came back gently. However, the flower was the same as the others now, never blooming as it once had when fed by the river water.
That was the gist of a metaphorical short story I wrote the year after my affair ended. It defined how I felt about what had happened. Scott had been providing what I needed to survive. When his “love” felt like it ended, I started looking elsewhere to survive. This new person, the river, made me feel like I never had before. But that was temporary. Scott eventually began pouring his love out again and I could bloom once more. At the time I wrote the story, I just knew I would never feel complete.
I went on to talk about how our source of love should be from God and not man. I used the verse in John 15 where it talks about Jesus being the vine and us, the branches.
Now, before I sound like some disciplined saint, I have to be honest and say I have not been reading Scripture lately like I should be. Sure, I listen to sermons and music and read books but haven’t sat down with the Bible like I should be. All my extra time has been spent on launching this book. It’s no excuse, but true.
Last night my Bible opened to Jeremiah 17 and of course I recognized 17:9 so I decided to back up a bit and read what was leading up to that verse. And look!
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7, 8 NIV
I mean, are you for real? The same weekend I launch this thing he gives me a picture of the EXACT thing I had written years ago, for sinful purposes, at that. Another beautiful reminder of how our source of love is only in Christ. I love that it says in a year of drought, it never fails. Yes! When we have those times of drought when our marriages and relationships are suffering, if we are getting our love needs met through Him, we will not fail. In fact, the beginning of the passage says we’ll be blessed.
God is so cool.
If you want to read more from Entangled, please hop over to the site!
It’s stories like these that remind me why I don’t believe in coincidence. How incredible for God to use the same imagery you did to remind you that He alone is the giver & source of true love & healing.
I love this: “it does not fear when the heat comes; it’s leaves are always green.” I’m a child of a bitter divorce. Divorce is all around on both sides of my family. My husband’s experience was just the opposite (thank God). But still divorce was my greatest fear. I waited a long time to be married, out of fear & not trusting that God was the difference-maker. What a fool I was. Marriage God’s way gives me the confidence to not fear when the heat comes, knowing His love for me, my husband, our marriage will always produce green leaves.
That’s a beautiful passage & testimony Amy. Like the rest of your book, I thank you so much for sharing your story & wisdom.
Love when the passages are exactly what you need! Looking forward to reading your book. It is a topic that so many of us need to hear. Thanks for sharing!
Tammy, glad you are reading it, hope you enjoy!
Wow!