Tree rings act as a natural diary of a tree’s life. Each ring records a year of growth, revealing seasons of abundance, drought, stress, fire, and healing. When we look at a tree stump, we can see the evidence of everything the tree has endured and the years it has continued to grow.
I chose a tree stump to represent this space because the wilderness can be a season that cuts us, stretches us, and leaves scars, but those seasons become part of our story. Often, it is only when we look back that we can see how God was faithful through each one.
The rings in my print represent the different seasons of life and the things we experience in the wilderness: fear, doubt, loneliness, waiting, and uncertainty-but also God’s presence, provision, guidance, and faithfulness. Around the outside of the tree, I incorporated Jack’s spoken-word / prayer about remembering God’s promises in the wilderness. His words are written in black to represent the human experience: the feelings, questions, and reminders we carry with us as we walk through difficult seasons. Scripture is written in red, representing the truth and promises of God, who meets us in those experiences.
The wilderness does not mean God has abandoned us. It can become a place of deeper dependence, connection, and intimacy with Him. Just as every ring becomes part of the tree’s history, every season becomes part of our story. When we look back, we may begin to see that even in the seasons that wounded us, God was there…woven around every ring.