Outside my window stands a beautiful ash tree. Twenty-six years old, planted when we moved into the house, the ash survived harsh winters and dry summers. But today the tree faces a new threat—the Emerald Ash Borer. This invasive beetle (originally from Asia) decimates North American ash trees. I cannot see the beetles, but the arborist who inspected my tree tells me they’re present. The beetles lay eggs, and the voracious larva feed inside the bark. Less than 1% of infested trees survive.

My tree has a problem on the inside.

Isaiah spoke of problems of the heart in his missive to Israel and Jerusalem. He wrote of the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, born out of long disregard for the Lord. But Isaiah also carried hope, reminding us that the Lord will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Like my tree, I have problems on the inside. Worries and temptations, pride and laziness eats away at my core. Larva birthed from this world, my own flesh and the devil burrow and feast.

Fortunately for my ash, a treatment exists to counteract the actions of the borer. A pair of arborists injected the base with a pesticide that spreads up the tree and kills the larva. The remedy lasts for two years, then will need to be repeated. A healthy tree requires vigilance.

As does a healthy inner life. Treatments exist to obstruct the borers of my soul. God’s Word, prayer, and time with fellow believers come to mind. I cannot always recognize the issues eating holes in my core, but I can counteract them by surrendering to the ways of the Lord.

Isaiah 26 & 30 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Annie Spratt