I am not really sure HOW this tree is holding on, but it IS!!! Its one of things: either it IS or it is NOT!!!! Sometimes people are like that too. When faced with seemingly impossible odds, they withstand everything and Succeed!!! There are times when giving up seems like the only thing to do and then a word of encouragement changes everything. Here is one of those cases...
WEB: Hebrews 3:6. but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.
WEB: Hebrews 3:14. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end:
WEB: Hebrews 10:23. let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.
Paul (yes, I believe it was Paul who wrote the book of Hebrews) gives some encouragement. He tells Christians who were in danger of falling away to "hold fast". How? Well, two thirds confidence and one third confession, mixed with a generous portion of hope!!! We aren't told exactly how those Christians fared and they may have looked as bad as the tree in the picture, but I am SURE they succeeded. How? Because, like the tree, they had roots and if your roots are in God's Christ, you have enough strength to endure anything!!!!