New From Old

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

On the Pieropan Christmas Tree Farm in western Massachusetts, Emmet Van Driesche grows all of his trees from stumps using a technique called coppicing. As trees age, they are cut at the base, their still-alive stumps becoming the nursery where multiple new shoots can grow. For millennia, farmers have used this technique to produce more wood faster, to maximize limited space, and to open the forest floor and bring sunlight to new growth.

When Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah, he used this picture of coppicing—a root springing from the stump of Jesse, new growth from something others might have considered dead. This Messiah would restore Israel’s hopes for the future and remind them that God’s promises were still alive if they would wholeheartedly obey. The shoot from the stump of Jesse would rise tall like a banner, drawing his people to himself—a rallying cry like the kind that heralded men for battle. However, this tall, beautiful shoot would not call nations to war but to peace. As they gathered under the shade of this new coppiced growth, Israel would find rest.

As you look at the stump of your own life, it may be hard to believe that anything could grow out of it again. Like Israel, you may wonder if salvation from your bleak situation will ever come. You’ve been cut off at the roots, severed by death from the life you loved before. What good could grow in your life now? You know you must go on, but you’re not sure you see hope or purpose in your future.

God’s promise of the Root of Jesse offers you hope today. Just like that coppiced tree growing out of Israel’s broken stump, God will raise up new life in you. The life you lived before your loss can become the fertile nursery from which a beautiful future can grow. You can draw from the nutrients of your past—your deep love for your person and the lessons you learned from life together—and find nourishment in Christ, the Light of Life (see John 1:4). God will grow your life again as you root yourself in him (see John 15:5).

Today, consider that what was “cut down” in your life can become the birthplace of new growth. The new life born from your grief can rise up like a beautiful new tree in the forest, your own rallying cry, drawing others to hope in God. Your coppiced tree can become a resting place where God meets and intimately nourishes you for the future he has prepared for you.

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.

A Prayer: Dear God, you are making all things new, and this includes me. Help me to believe that you are growing something beautiful out of the stump of my old life. Nourish me with your presence, and sustain me as I experience the growth pains that come with starting over. Remind me to always turn to you as my source of life. Amen.

An Activity for Today: Many grieving people find comfort in owning something that belonged to their loved one, particularly a piece of clothing. There’s something very intimate about being able to hold something that used to be so close to your person’s body. Today, if you have a piece of your person’s clothing, bring it out to hold and smell and caress. Wear it if it brings you comfort and peace. If you don’t have a piece of clothing from your person, choose an outfit today that highlights one of his or her favorite colors or accessories. Wear a baseball cap in memory of Dad. Pull out your red sweater to honor your best friend’s love of vibrant hues. Clothing can reflect how we feel inside. What you wear today can offer silent witness to your grief and love and reflect your person quietly to the world.

A Song to Encourage Your Heart: “Abide” by Jonni Mae