Chapter 2 – John 16:33b  “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

A missionary visited our church.  I wish I could tell you who he was. I don’t remember.  Nevertheless, his message changed our lives.

He told of visiting a primitive tribe, somewhere in the Philippians.  After he spoke to the people, telling them of Jesus, he had walked around their village.  He came upon a little girl.  She was tied to a tree.

She was tied to a tree!  He asked the village people why this little girl was tied to a tree, and they explained that she could not be contained, that evil spirits had command over her and the only way they could keep her safe - keep the people around her safe - was to tie her to a tree.

He asked the village people if he could pray for her, to which they agreed hesitantly.  He prayed.  Instantly, she was healed.  The people cried out in awe.  Was this healing permanent?  

Eventually, carefully, cautiously, the villagers untied her from the tree and many of them became believers in Jesus Christ because of the miracle given on behalf of the little tree-girl.

I was stunned by the missionary’s story.  I had a little girl who, in my heart, was tied to a tree.  She had been so angry and so hurt from the time she came home, that I had begun to hold her away from the rest of our family to try to protect us.  From the earliest baby days, she would dig her little nails into our skin, pulling, ripping.  She would hit and scratch for reasons unknown.  She refused to obey.  She refused to be comforted when she was held.  She rejected relationships.

We didn’t know how to love her enough.  We didn’t know how to show her she was safe with us.  

Finally, in desperation, we began to “exist” together, rather than move forward together.  We, as a family, “tied her to a tree” to keep from being hurt any further.  

Feeling defeated, I realized that hatred toward this little person had begun to take root in my life.  I, who thought no child was beyond saving, was now struggling with all my might to live according to my convictions.  It was a place of great sorrow.  Of brokenness.  Of constant surrender.

But that day, sitting in the raspberry cushioned pew, listening to the missionary, I knew God was speaking to me.  He was asking me to pray that He would untie my little girl from the “tree” that was keeping her in bondage.  He was asking me to find a place where I could believe that He was capable of releasing her, releasing our family, from this crazy place of bondage.

Daily, I began to fall on my face before God and cry out to Him for His supernatural Love for my little girl.  I pleaded for healing for her heart, for compassion in mine, for creativity and wisdom, for His strength to overcome our humanity.  She was two years old when I began to pray.

She was four when she gave her heart to Jesus.  In the bathtub.  We were practicing verses for Bible Club when she suddenly realized that she needed to believe in Jesus.  

“I  believe in Jesus!  I want to obey Him.  I want Him to come into my heart!” She exclaimed.  So, we prayed together.  Right there.  Her in her birthday suit, and me, sitting there on the damp bathmat beside the tub.

My God untied her from the “tree”. His Tree commanded her release.  His blood cut loose the ropes of her bondage.  My spirit danced before my King, her hand in mine as we twirled before the Maker of the Universe, the Healer of the Broken.

God had received into His arms another broken baby.  Now it was His job to put the pieces back together.  We would simply join Him in His work.

Slowly, she began to change.  Slowly.  Maybe it was just that now we felt hope.  There would be months and years ahead of continuing to fight on her behalf to bring her healing in spirit, but my God had untied her from the “tree”.  He would continue to do His work in her life.  In our lives.

I’m holding up empty ropes to You, God.  I’m praising You, joining the songs of Your angels, for You are a mighty God.  Never again will these ropes bind my child.  Ever more, You will hold her close to Your heart.  

Take our empty ropes.  We don’t need them anymore.