A lumberjack hiked into the woods with his axe and before chopping down the first tree, noticed a mama bird building a nest in it. He wanted to warn her so he banged on the trunk with the blunt end of his axe until she flew away to another tree. Unfortunately, he had to scare her out of that tree, too, because it would be cut down.

This happened a number of times, until after flitting from tree to tree, the flustered mama bird flew to a high rock to build her nest. She was finally safe. If the lumberjack could have talked to her he would have told her at the start, “You have to find a better place to settle because all these trees are coming down.” ¹

Our joy and peace are dependent on where we place our hope and often, just like that mama bird, we haven’t realized we’ve built our “nest” of hope on something that will pass away, like depending on creaking branches way up high in swaying trees that can be felled in a few moments.

Some of these trees for me are hoping specific things for my children or grandchildren, counting on financial security in retirement, hoping for health and long life, wishing the world would come to its senses and stop hating and fighting (that’s a very shaky tree for sure!). They’re all desired outcomes but can all turn out much differently than I hope! And if they do, will it rattle or destroy me?

Eventually, all the trees we’re settling on in this life are coming down. When you stop to think about it, where have you put your hope?

Many times in the Bible God is described as a rock: sure and strong, high and lifted up, unshakable, unmovable, a fortress, a refuge, and a place to dwell. Jesus said building our lives on his word and on him was like building on rock. Anything else and we’re going to be in trouble when storms come.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2 NLT

Be my rock of safety where I can always hide… Psalm 71:3 NLT

From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
for you are my safe refuge,
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary… Psalm 61:1-4 NLT

I’m pondering this today. I feel God banging on the trunk of the tree where I’m tempted to rest to warn me it won’t last. Where am I really putting my hope?

My deep-down, core hope is on God’s love and grace, on the certainty that my life and the lives of everyone I love are in his good hands and we are going to be with Him forever. This troubled world and life are not my final home. Someday all will be made new and the sad will come untrue.

Keep me in this solid, safe place, Abba, resting on the rock of your faithfulness and unfailing love. Thank you for warning me and reminding me to trust and hope in You above all.

You have a choice, too: settle in unsteady, uncertain places or build on the rock.

No fear of lumberjacks here!

¹from a message by Tim Keller via the Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast, Gospel in Life