“And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.” — Ezekiel 17:24
“To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.” — Job 5:11
In both passages, God reveals a simple, hope-filled truth: He is the One who lifts people up. He humbles the proud, but He raises the humble. When life brings us low — through discouragement, struggle, or loss — God does not abandon us there. Instead, He specializes in taking what seems dry, broken, or overlooked and causing it to flourish again. We may feel buried, but God says we are being planted. His power works best in our lowest moments, and His lifting is never accidental—it is purposeful, gentle, and always for our good.
David the Shepherd Boy (1 Samuel 16–17). David was the youngest son, overlooked even by his own family. When Samuel came to anoint a king, David wasn’t even invited to the gathering. Yet God lifted the lowly shepherd. He anointed him king and used him to defeat Goliath. David’s rise shows that God delights in elevating the humble — turning the “low tree” into one that flourishes.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus (Luke 1:46–55). When Mary learned she would carry the Messiah, her song praised God because He “hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.” A poor, young, unknown girl was chosen for the greatest honor in human history. Mary embodies the truth that God sees the lowly and lifts them up according to His divine purpose.
Wherever you find yourself today — low, weary, or overlooked — remember that God has not forgotten you. He is the God who causes dry trees to bloom and the humble to rise. Trust His timing, and let Him lift you in His perfect way. I know this devotion was a tough one — especially for me. Thank God for The King James Bible because it humbles us.