Lessons Under the Pecan Tree: Truths for All Times

Editor’s note:

The following is taken from a devotional Sally gave to a group of moms last fall.

Question: Is God in total control of everything, no matter what happens, good or bad? Is He sovereign?

I was troubled, fearful and weak with the burdens of life, and God led me to our pecan tree to teach me to listen to Him. This is what I learned.

• First, God led me to humble myself, to confess my sins, repent and cry out for help.

1Peter 5:5-7 “Be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you”

James 4:6-10 - “God resists the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

• Next, God led me to worship Him. I was again reminded of my smallness and His greatness. With each pecan I picked up, I worshipped my Almighty Creator God.

1 Cor.10:26 “For the earth is the Lords, and the fulness thereof.”

He reminded me of His forgiveness, unconditional love and mercy for me and I praised and thanked Him.

• Then, God led me to pray. SO MUCH TO PRAY ABOUT! I had wondered throughout the years if I would understand what praying without ceasing meant in 1Thess. 5:17. I think I’m learning! The heavier the burdens the more I must pray, because I can’t carry those burdens. They are too heavy for me.

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.”

I have so much praying-without-ceasing material! It seems like more than ever before (but perhaps I’m just being made aware of more to pray about by the Lord).

He promises in Hebrews 13:5b-6: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

I prayed about the fear of the future I have for my children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. He reminded me to trust Him to take care of them.

Ps. 37:23-26 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholds him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his seed is blessed.”

• Remember Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

This was the passage He gave me when I was a brand-new Christian. It has helped me so many times throughout my life, especially when I am confused or troubled.

• Remember God, the Holy Spirit is in me to guide, comfort and empower me to follow God’s Word and trust Him.

• Remember God delivers his people from evil. And He tells me to pray that He would deliver us from evil in the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:4).

Jesus prayed for us to be kept from evil: John 17:15 “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

Gal. 1:4 “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

2 Tim. 4:18 “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

• Remember God carries all our burdens.

Matt. 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

• Remember God gives strength in time of need.

Ps. 18:2,32 “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.”

• Remember God is able to calm the storm if He chooses. If He chooses not to, He is always Righteous, Holy and Good.

• Remember God has a perfect plan that He is accomplishing, and it is good because He is Good.

• Remember to wait on the Lord, His timing is always perfect.

• Remember to forgive others (enemies as well) as I have been forgiven.

• Remember that a sound mind comes from God.

2 Tim. 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a

sound mind”

He gives perfect peace and a new song!

Ps 28:6-7 “Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him”

• Live like I believe “God rules in the affairs of men.” That means trust Him in and for everything I need.

I was filled with PEACE and JOY and songs of thanksgiving and praise to God sprang from my heart and lips. Strength to trust God, strength to go on.

Hope of eternity flooded my soul and mind. I pictured and sensed God’s arms around me, under me, over me with each pecan He showed me.

I was walking on Holy ground, it seemed.

With every step I learned to ask my Heavenly Father “Have I picked up enough pecans, are there any more?” I would look down where I had already been and there was another pecan. I learned to say, “thank you” and trust Him for each pecan.

To learn to hear His voice for direction in life, we need to ASK, SEEK and KNOCK.

Having ears open to hear and a humble heart filled with God’s Spirit to trust Him and obey one step at a time, even in small, humble things like picking up pecans. (Or like changing diapers, breaking up sibling fights for the 100th time, cleaning bathrooms, shopping at stores with more and more empty shelves and prices rising, hearing of more and more evil around the world, etc.) Remember the Garden of Eden where God loved fellowshipping with Adam and Eve. So our loving Heavenly Father delights to have fellowship with us, and has made a way for us to come boldly to His throne through Jesus Christ our Savior.

How amazing!

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!!