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Dec 06, 2025 06:00am

Root of David

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In the yard, there was a stump left over after the large, dying oak tree was removed—at least removed enough that it posed no danger to the house anymore. It had endured storms and kids carving initials into it, lots of climbers, limbs breaking, scorching hot summers, bursts of frost, bark beetles, lightning, and if something could hurt the tree, it happened.

The stump should have been cut down low enough to grind away what was left, but that just hadn’t happened yet. It sat there like a reminder of what had been. After several seasons passed, I noticed a sprig of a tree begin to shoot up from that stump. I could barely believe it. I had written off that red oak as a dead stump of memories—never imagining life could come out of it again!

But there it was—a shoot of life coming from a stump that seemed doomed and done for. One morning, I read my Advent devotional, and this verse immediately brought that old stump to mind:

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot.” (Isaiah 11:1)

This Advent season, as I reflected on decisions made, circumstances faced, attitudes displayed, opportunities taken, and opportunities missed, I started to see myself as a stump (after the worst parts of me were chopped and whittled away), and I became overwhelmed with God’s goodness.

Through the humbling and difficult trek of life, God allowed His goodness to still sprout in this undeserving stump. And now I know, since He did not spare His Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also graciously give me—even undeserving me—all the things I need (Romans 8:32)? He is Jehovah Jireh, and He will provide—not because I have earned His provision or because I deserve any goodness…because both of those are untrue…but because He loves me enough to sprout His goodness out of my pitiful little stump.

This is true for you, too. As we celebrate Christmas, I pray you can embrace this truth with me. He loves you—so much so that He became the greatest Gift you could ever receive. Out of a family tree that seemed like a stump that had run out of chances to bring good, God chose to bring us Him! He didn’t choose to send Jesus into a royal family or even a family of “good” people (although none of us are good on our own):

“as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10–12 CSB)

He chose a family that included murderers, liars, and thieves—humans. He chose to allow the Sprout to come to a stump that had been hurt and damaged and was full of imperfection.

So whatever weighs down your heart—whatever steals your heart from embracing His joy, peace, and love—give it over to Him. He is Yahweh Tsidkenu—Our Righteousness, and He longs for you to truly accept His grace and mercy and love for you. He gave up His place in Heaven to be born into humanity and to live a life of righteousness, die a death He didn’t deserve to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose again to prepare a place for us to be with Him.

He is our greatest gift—one we could never earn for ourselves!