Daily Devotion

January 20, 2015

In difficult times, don’t just survive – thrive!


It’s easy to become discouraged during difficult times. If you look at today’s economic situation, you see many people without jobs, people losing their homes to foreclosure, and a sense of fear and insecurity about the future. But, regardless of the economic circumstances, God has promised provision for people who place their trust in Him.

Psalms 92:12-15 (TLB) contains a promise from God. It says, “But the Godly shall flourish like palm trees and grow tall as the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted into the Lord’s own garden and are under his personal care. Even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green. This honors the Lord and exhibits his faithful care. He is my shelter. There is nothing but goodness in him!”

What do you think God means when He promises that people who serve Him will flourish like a palm tree?

  1. Most species of palm trees grow in desert climates. They tolerate high temperatures, little rainfall, and high winds. Palms can flourish where other trees would wither and die. God promises that we who serve Him will flourish where others will wither. The circumstances around us will not keep God from providing and will not keep us from thriving.
  2. Palm trees have a different root system than most other trees. Instead of the roots tapering and becoming smaller as they grow farther away from the trunk, palm tree roots stay about the same size. These roots can make their way below the dry, shifting sand to find stability where other trees would not. Our roots are in the Spirit and the Word of God. In a world of fear and insecurity, we have a strong foundation and experience the peace of God.
  3. Unlike most trees that have a woody, dead outer layer, the entire trunk of a palm is alive, allowing it to be very flexible, bending in hurricane-force winds that would break other trees. Storms will come, but God’s protection surrounds us and we will not break. We will come through the storm with victory.

Spending time reading God’s Word, fasting and praying – regardless of your circumstances – will give you strong roots in your faith, ready to weather any storm in the economy, your health, your family, or your job. Psalms 1:2-3 (TLB) says, “But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely. They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper.” God

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