“…for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles.” Luke 6:44 NET

Picked      

One day my mom said, ”Who knows why we get picked to go through the things we do, but one thing is for sure, there is always someone worse off than we are.” This coming from a woman whose list of things she’s been “picked” for includes: the death of her mom in her 13-year-old arms, the destruction of her first marriage by infidelity, the loss of an adopted child when the birth mother changed her mind, multiple chronic health conditions, and the death of her second husband of over 50 years to suicide.

When I talk about things I’ve been picked for in my flesh, it sounds like some sort of trophy list. In my spirit however, when I focus on Who picks me to go through things in life—either by ordaining them or allowing them—it looks different. Nothing has or ever will happen that doesn’t pass by God first. This can be a disturbing thought depending on what you’ve gone through, but it’s also a comforting one. As a believer, I know God has been with me in each of those situations—He’s brought my family and me through many hard, even ugly things. In them He’s done miracles, He’s transformed, renewed, rebuilt, healed, mended. Being picked for certain things has given me the ability to comfort others who’ve been picked for them too.

“Picked” is defined by dictionary.com: “Specially chosen or selected, usually for special skill; cleared or cleaned by or as if by picking: i.e. picked fruit.”

It was never God’s intention for us to go through any of the painful or ugly things in life we go through. It started when Eve was deceived by the serpent, and she picked and ate the fruit of the one tree in the garden they were to stay away from. With the knowledge of good and evil came sin, and with sin came death and the doing of both good and evil (Genesis 3).

Jesus was picked by God to make it right. One tree and one choice would bring death and evil into the world, and thousands of years later, one tree and one choice would conquer death and evil in the world.

God keeps His eye on those who are picked. He sees, cares, loves, lifts and delivers. There are people we come in contact with every day who are worse off than we’ll ever be. Do they know the Jesus who chose to hang on a tree to make it right? Do they know God loves them? Or do they think He hates them because of things that have happened? Are we living testimonies of the love of God in hard things and hard places?

“Father God, may we always bring You glory in the midst of whatever things we are picked for. Amen.”