THE JUNIPER TREE SYNDROME
(Before reading this article, it would be helpful for you to read I Kings
18:17-19:9.)
Sale are down, money is tight, things look really bad, and on and on I
could go. We seem to be caught in a spiraling negativism which is spilling
over into every area of life. Our society is reflecting a doomsday
mentality like it has never known. Everyday we hear the undercurrent of
panic in the questions concerning our future as a nation and a people.
Stress is taking its toll physically, mentally, and spiritually. Families
reflect this stress with increasing divorce rates and tension-filled homes.
In a stress filled society, how does one avoid catching this dreadful
disease - "The juniper tree syndrome?"
Stress is no respecter of person, age, or profession. Even the
upright get uptight! We can identify with Elijah for we have been on the
mountaintop and in the valley. On the mountaintop we walk in victory, our
prayers are answered, the enemy is defeated, things just go right for us,
just as it was with Elijah. But after all God's glorious revelation,
anointing, and demonstration, Elijah's life was threatened and he laced up
his jogging shoes and ran.
We need to learn to recognize the three stages of the juniper tree
syndrome: FEAR, DEFEAT, then REST. When stress confronts an individual, he
usually reacts in one of two ways: fight or flight. We may know 2 Timothy
1:7 backward (God has not given us a spirit of fear... ), but deep down
inside fear is still there. When every bone in your body calls for you to
run, stand firm and resist the devil. Do not receive his words of fear.
Elijah ran because of fear and, in defeat, found himself under the
juniper tree asking God to take his life. Praise the Lord, He does not
answer some of our self-pity prayers while we are wallowing in defeat.
Elijah's defeat led to demoralization, disappointment, discouragement,
disillusionment, and depression. These five "deadly d's" paint a tragic
picture of defeat.
How does God handle the situation? Does He condemn His servant? Jump
all over him? Threaten him? God's response is a beautiful picture of His
love for us. His mercy endures forever. God takes over and gives rest.
What a loving God. No harsh words, no condemnation came from Him.
Instead, He lovingly cared for His man.
God uses difficulty to conform us to His image. In the northern
United States, cod fish are a very big commercial business. The cod are
caught and shipped all over the country. At first they froze the fish and
shipped them, but they lost their flavor. They decided to ship them alive
in tanks, but that proved to be worse. They not only lost their flavor,
but the texture of the meat was affected. the problem was solved in a very
unique way. The cod were placed in the tank along with their natural
enemy...the catfish. The catfish chased the cod all over the tank and the
cod arrived at the market as fresh as when they were first caught. There
was no loss of flavor or texture.
God places us in a tank (of circumstances) and in the tank is also
placed some catfish (a job, a wife, a husband, a child, a church, etc.)
These "catfish" keep us alert and fresh and alive. Can you name some of
the catfish in your tank? Have you thanked God for them?
If you are sitting under the juniper tree, relax and let this be a
teachable moment for you. Be a good receiver and let the Lord minister and
teach you so that when the lesson is learned, you can put your jogging
shoes back on, get back into the race, and "press on toward the mark for
the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Pastor Ron Hossack
Butterfield Baptist Church
1500 Greenbriar
Corona, CA 91720
Phone: 354-7865
Come visit us in our new location for a re-freshing time of worship and
fellowship. The place where love isn't talked about....it's a reality and
where you are never a stranger. If you're good enough for Jesus, you're
good enough for us!