When You Feel Stripped Down and Bare
Posted February 20, 2024 by Jeannette Wilcock
Categories: Featured, Jeannette, Sister Post
I look out my living room window to the large bare olive tree in our yard. It stands tall yet fragile and exposed, as if life has been stripped from it. I can’t see beyond the barrenness of the world outside to the beauty that will be in just a short time. It is early March, two weeks after I had a brain tumor removed.
Barren…
It all happened so fast. I went from being a busy Mom, running my business, working as a stylist, singing in church, and doing many other things I believed to be important. Yet everything came to a halt with the news of my brain tumor, as I tried to figure out what the next steps would be.
My family and I traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and the tumor was successfully removed.
Now I am home, recovering on my couch for hours at a time with my head propped up so as not to interfere with the stitches. Whereas I was begging for “more time” before my surgery, all I have is time now—time with my children and husband. Time for all the extra things I wanted to do before, and can’t do now.
Jeannette, I love you just as you are. Just like that olive tree that is stripped of its beauty and left bare in the cold, I know its worth and what I created it to be. It stands tall in the dark cold days and awaits its springtime bloom. It will be beautiful and useful again with its sweet fragrance drifting through the air.
-God
What a lesson I am learning! The world goes on without me! I wonder where my value lies if I can’t produce, control, or contribute? I wonder what God is trying to teach me? Will I be able to listen and learn?
But Not without Hope
As I try to listen. I hear these words: “Jeannette, I love you just as you are. Just like that olive tree that is stripped of its beauty and left bare in the cold, I know its worth and what I created it to be. It stands tall in the dark cold days and awaits its springtime bloom. It will be beautiful and useful again with its sweet fragrance drifting through the air.”
We may be barren, but not without hope. This is only a season.
I feel bare, empty, in pain, and useless at this time I stare out the window, but God reminds me of who I am and my worth. He created me on purpose, for a purpose just like every little thing He has created.
It’s been six years this March since my surgery. The growth and healing that took place in those dark times was hidden but apparent as I allowed God to love and remind me of who I am in His eyes.
I don’t have to strive or produce to be of value to God. My value is in being a child of God—His creation and handiwork.
Jeannette Wilcock
This was a season in my life mixed with pain and gratefulness, confusion and understanding, heartache and healing. Some days were long and difficult but somehow I knew it would give way to a new season as I allowed God to heal my head and my heart.
As I accepted the help and prayers of so many wonderful people, permitted myself to rest when I needed it, and sought to see myself as God sees me just as I am, I realized a valuable lesson: I don’t have to strive or produce to be of value to God. My value is in being a child of God—His creation and handiwork. I can revel in that glory and stand tall in all my barrenness and pain knowing I am who He created me to be, and in due time I will bloom again.
An Invitation
In this season of lent, we are offered the opportunity to join our pain with Christ and reflect on what He endured for all of us. What a loving God we have! He not only walks alongside us, He comes close as to share in our suffering and relate to our pain.
Let your eyes gaze upon the cross of Christ and let His love absorb deep into your soul. See the arms of Jesus stretched out to you. You are loved!
Together we can look forward to a season of new life and the joy of the resurrection in Christ Jesus. Now that’s something to celebrate! So hang on to hope and stand tall wherever you are, knowing God is truly with you and will never abandon you!
I really see a lot of strength in people, like you, who have to deal with health issues. Their faith overwhelms me. I have a friend who has MS and has been in a wheelchair for a long time. My husband (who’s not saved.) tried to help her through diet. She keeps running into more and more health issues. I just commend her every time I talk to her regarding her patience. I say to the Lord, I just don’t know how I would react to such a challenge. Would my heart be hardened? I sure hope not because Jesus is what I need every day. He is faithful. Thanks for sharing! ❤️ G
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. To have ongoing struggle with health would be very difficult but as in the story with Mother Cabrini who had ill health and lived her life in service of the Lord, we too can find our strength in Christ in all circumstances. I just wrote down a quote from Saint Cabrini. “Live abandoned to God and let him treat you according to His pleasure. What does it matter if it be Golgotha,Tabor or Gethsemane? It is enough to know that we are with Him.”