When I look at a wood floor, I see that each board is different. Wood grain colors vary and can run in opposite, irregular directions­, making each board unique. Every Christian is unique too, and God gave us different things to do.

Some tree growth rings in the boards are narrow and close together. It must have been a tough year for the tree, with some harsh weather—extreme cold or heat or drought.

In our lives as Christians, we can have a harsh time, with trials like illness or sadness. We cry out to God for special help at these times to get through it.

There are also wider, yet irregular growth circles on some boards, showing a more normal growth. We, too, have times where life is more normal, and we can make better progress and accomplish goals.

On many of the floor boards are knot holes of various sizes that cause unique and artistic healing patterns—a beauty in design and with shades of darker browns. Throughout our lives we see results of things we’ve done that we no longer have the strength or endurance to continue in, like artistic things we’ve made, sports trophies won, or blue ribbons from fair entries.

Scattered through some boards is insect damage­—small bites and tunnels. These scars remind me of the physical scars of our bodies, or emotional scars of troubles we’ve had.

I have a disobedience scar on my right forearm which happened when I was three years old. My daddy said, “You’re too little to climb over the barbed wire fence. I want you to get on the ground and crawl under so you don’t get hurt.” While he was climbing over, I decided I was big enough to at least climb between the first and second rows of the wire. I got one foot through while pushing the bottom wire with my right hand. All of a sudden, my hand slipped and a barb made a sharp slice from my mid-forearm and curved upward and inward to my elbow. Daddy had to carry his screaming, sorry child to the house, and call my uncle, a doctor, to get stitched up

What stories do you have to share? What did you learn from them? With God’s help we are, or can be healed as we are sorry for our sin and give our burdens to Him. The promises in His Word are a great source of healing and comfort.

With God’s help, we can obey His Word that He lovingly gave us. We can pray to Him anytime. Prayer can include cries for help, strength to resist temptation, or healing.

What incidents come to mind in your life as we talked about trials? Troubles, painful words, something that hurt you?

What can you do, or where can you go to get help to heal and to grow up in Christ?