Acorns

Think of the self that God has given us as an acorn. It is a marvelous little thing, a perfect shape, perfectly designed for its purpose, perfectly functional. Think of the grand glory of a oak tree. God's intention when He made the acorn was the oak tree. He intention for us is "...the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Many deaths must go into our reaching that measure, many letting-goes. When you look at the oak tree, you don't feel that the "loss" of the acorn is a very great loss. The more you perceive God's purpose in your life, the less terrible the losses seem. 

[I] am being asked to trust, to leave the planning to God. God's ultimate plan [is] as far beyond [my] imagination as the oak tree is from the acorn's imaginings. The acorn does what it was made to do, without pestering its Maker with questions about when and how and why. We who have been given an intelligence and a will and a whole range of wants that can be set against the divine Pattern for Good are asked to believe Him. We are given the chance to trust Him when He says to us, "...If any man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self."

When will we find it? we ask. The answer is, Trust me. 

How will we find it? The answer again is, Trust me. 

Why must I let myself be lost? we persist. The answer is, Look at the acorn and trust Me. 

elisabeth elliot

I read these words early one morning and have thought about them since. I soon found myself in a park, standing beneath a tree on ground littered with acorns. I crouched and gathered them until my hand overflowed. I needed to look at them and remember their willingness to be planted. Planted so they could become what God intended for them to become. Become what He created them to be. To be what He intended all along. 


Their willingness. 

And then these words to a song that I sing and think of the small acorn that I have come to love so much:

Oh I've been pushed down into the ground

Oh how I've been trampled down

So many feet on top of me

I can't help but sink, sink, sink

Oh I've been pushed down into the ground

Oh how I have been trampled down

Lord I put my trust in thee

You won't turn your back on me

Oh I am a seed

Oh I am a seed

I've been pushed down into the ground

But i will rise up a tree

Oh I can see it won't be long

Till I break free from what I was

Your river of grace flows endlessly

You won't turn your back on me

Oh I am a seed

Oh I am a seed

I've been pushed down into the ground

But i will rise up a tree

I've been burned up in so many fires

From these ashes I will rise

Lord your power has rescued me

For you I'll always sing

Oh I am a seed

Oh I am a seed

I've been pushed down into the ground

But I will rise up a tree

Oh I am a seed

Oh I am a seed

Won't stay long here in this earth

When you rain your love on me

Lord, rain your love on me

david crowder band "i am a seed"