Writer’s Life | Peeling Back the Layers.

During a recent walk along my dirt track in the Australian bush, I came across a eucalypt tree shedding its blackish bark.

The beauty of it stopped me short, and my son and I spent some time at the tree, detailing the bark-shedding process. The dry bark split and peeled off the trunk in jagged sections, revealing a new ‘skin’ underneath. The new bark was a beautiful creamy color, smooth and silky to touch. It was such a contrast to the peeling layer, which was rough and prickly.

My son and I picked at the old bark, giving the tree a bit of ‘help’. We recalled how a bush fire had gone through the area just under a year ago. The ravages of the fire probably blackened the bark more than usual. The tree looked as though it had been through a lot, and was finally breaking out of its shell—entering into better times, better health.

A conversation I’d had weeks earlier came to my mind, at the annual Australian Christian Writers Conference in Sydney. A friend of mine had written a novel that tackled a difficult topic, and although I couldn’t personally relate to the subject matter, I did connect with one aspect of the book. We discussed the way the Lord peels back the layers of deep-rooted spiritual issues in our lives.

I could relate to the tree and the peeling back of its rough, damaged layers. I have suffered from rejection. It is a spiritual battle that has affected many aspects of my life. I started praying about it years ago, without even knowing what I was praying about, what I was battling. I just knew something wasn’t right. Something drove me in negative ways, and I didn’t know what.

It took years of praying, years of committing the issue to the Lord, years of trusting He had the answers, believing He could heal me. And He did, but looking at that tree, I finally realized why it had taken so long.

That feeling of rejection had been so deep that He’d needed to peel off the layers, one healing at a time.

The first layer was revelation—the name of the thing I was battling. That layer opened up a door to understanding. Then layer after layer of that rejection issue was ripped off. I felt brand new each time a layer came off, only to find another layer of bad ‘skin’ right below, even layers I’d never known about that needed to be pulled away. Layers like a generational struggle with rejection. These layers were only known to the Lord, and like the eucalypt tree, He stripped them away, one at a time.

It’s taken years and years, but the layers have stopped peeling. Rejection does not drive me anymore. When it rears its ugly head, I tell it that it has no place with me. It was a lie all along—a deep painful lie that was meant to control and rob me. The Lord has done a wonderful work in my life, and I am free.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

I look back now and realize that the process was meant to take a long time. It had to be slow, because it was deep.

If you, dear reader, are having a similar battle today—with rejection or any other deep spiritual issue—please know you are not alone. God may take many years to peel back those layers, but don’t give up.

Ask Him to reveal the layers. Be brave and seek His strength. Get praying, and keep praying.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Be willing to face every layer He peels away. He will not leave you. He will only give you as much as you can handle at one time, until you are free.

As He wants you to be.

(First seen in Book Fun Magazine Jan 2017)