Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
6 2 2025
The Story of Three Trees: Discovering God’s Purpose Through Surrender
I found some old 5.25 floppy disks from the late 1980s from my earlier ministry days, and had to find a way to read them. In them, I found pieces of an incomplete old story from an unknown author that spoke to me deeply. In reconstructing them, God revealed a truth that I needed for this season of my life.
It was a powerful story—simple in its telling, but profound in its meaning…about three trees who each had dreams of greatness. Their hopes were noble, their visions grand. But none of them imagined how God would actually fulfill those dreams.
The first tree dreamed of becoming a magnificent palace, strong and majestic, fit to house a great king. When the woodcutters came to chop him down, he protested, “No! I have a dream! I am destined to be a castle for royalty—a sanctuary for a king!” But they cut him down anyway. To his dismay, he wasn’t shaped into a palace, but into a feeding trough—an animal manger in a dusty stable. It seemed like the end of his dream.
Years passed. And one quiet night, in that very stable, a baby was born. He was wrapped in cloths and laid in the trough—the King of Kings. The tree finally fulfilled its dream, though not in the way it expected. It did house a King—just not the way it had imagined.
The second tree dreamed of becoming a mighty sailing vessel, one that would carry explorers, kings, and warriors across vast oceans. He envisioned himself bearing greatness upon his deck. But he, too, was cut down before he believed he was ready. “Not yet!” he cried. “I’m too small, too young! I have a purpose! I am to be great!” But the craftsmen ignored his plea and fashioned him into a small fishing boat.
For years, he bobbed along the shorelines, seemingly insignificant. Then one day, a man climbed aboard. The crowds pressed in, so the man stood at the stern and taught the multitudes from the boat. That man was Jesus. The tree did carry greatness, not across oceans, but across hearts. It bore the Messiah as He spoke life to the people.
The third tree dreamed of being the tallest tree in the forest, soaring high, admired by all. “I will be remembered forever!” he boasted. “People will come from every land just to gaze at me!” But this tree, too, was cut down. He wasn’t shaped into anything grand. He was left on the ground for years, forgotten, weathered, broken. Eventually, his beams were formed into a crude cross. And upon that cross, the Savior of the world was crucified. The tree became a symbol of salvation, of sacrifice, of eternal remembrance. Far beyond what he had hoped, he would be remembered-not for his height, but for the One who hung upon him.
What is the Lesson of the Trees for you?
Each of these trees had a dream—something noble, something big. But God’s plans are not always revealed the way we expect. His dreams for us are far deeper, richer, and more impactful than our own. What feels like a setback, or an early ending, is often the beginning of something far greater.
We are much like those trees. We make our plans. We set our goals. We dream of impact, influence, success. But often, when God moves us from our expected path, we resist. We cry, “Not yet!” or “Not this way!” We think we know how our story should unfold. But only the Creator sees the full picture. Only He knows how to turn our trials into testimony, our disappointments into divine appointments.
Proverbs 19:21 reminds us:
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
We live in a world that celebrates control—our goals, our visions, our hustle. But God calls us to something different: surrender. He invites us to lay down our dreams and trust His process. To believe that when we give up control, we gain something eternal—His will.
Surrender Is the Path to True Destiny
You may feel like your dream has been delayed—or worse, destroyed. You may look at your current season and wonder, “What happened? This is not what I planned!” But God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9). What looks like a trough, a fishing boat, or a cross may actually be the very place of your destiny. It may be the platform for His glory through your life.
Romans 8:28 promises us:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
God is not interested in building your fame—He is interested in shaping your faith. He is not looking for your platform—He is looking for your surrender. Only then will you know the peace that comes from walking in His will. Only then will you find the deepest joy and purpose your soul was designed for.
A Call to Humility and Trust
Let this story serve as a reminder: God’s version of greatness often begins in surrender, and His promotion often comes through humility. The tree that wanted to be admired became the cross. The one who wanted to carry greatness became the vessel for Jesus’ voice. The one who wanted to house royalty held the infant Savior.
Their dreams were not denied, they were transformed.
James 4:10 says:
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
So today, let us release our expectations and say, “God, not my will, but Yours be done.” May we trade our dreams for His divine purpose. May we trust that even when we’re “cut down,”
He is still writing a better story than we ever imagined.
Reflection Prayer:
Father, help me surrender my dreams, my timing, and my plans to You. Shape me into what You want me to be. Use my life—even my disappointments—for Your glory. I trust that You are working, even when I don’t understand. Thank You for turning broken pieces into sacred purposes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Side note:
I’ll be teaching a Discovering Jesus class online tomorrow tuesday from 7:00–8:30 PM. If you’re looking to grow your faith or know someone who is, I’d love for you to join us — or invite a friend. Here is the Link: https://meet.google.com/cfm-udos-iks
If you would like to pass this lesson and future devotions to someone, send them this Signup link:http://eepurl.com/i_nlb2 My website to view past devotions is https://fearlesslycourageous.com.
Waymaker
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