The Palm Tree

Psalm 92:12-14 – 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. (TLB)

For many years, I lived in the Coachella Valley, located in the Sonoran Colorado Desert of southeastern California, USA. Due to the warm, year-round climate, various varieties of palm trees grow in the valley. Most of the palms grow straight up and gain their height on overlapping large, evergreen leaf bases which are arranged at the top of an unbranched stem.

Most palm trees survive hurricane winds because they do not have many branches to catch the wind. A palm has a root ball with fibrous roots that not only fan out to great distances but also go down deep. So all this combines to give a palm tree a very solid base in the ground and a very supple trunk that will bend in the wind without breaking. As a result of being beaten down by hurricanes, monsoons, and other types of storms, their trunks grow stronger, and they grow taller and more beautiful.

The cross section of a palm tree shows a number of brownish spots instead of the growth rings. These are bundles of vascular strands that carry nutrients up and down the tree. It's like a thick, steel cable woven from a lot of smaller steel wires. Each strand in these vascular bundles is connected to the root system, which grows from the root ball.

Just as the palm tree derives its nutrients from the vascular bundles which are connected to the solid root ball, Christians derive their strength and nutrients to live a Christian life by their connection to the rich soil of the Word of God and by faith in Jesus Christ Himself.

Consider this: Like palm trees that bend in heavy winds and bounce right back up straight and tall, when the storms of life come, Christians who are rooted and grounded in the Word are better equipped to bounce right up when they get back in fellowship with Christ and re-connect with Him as their source of strength.

Ephesians 3:17 – And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. (TLB)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of Your deep love as we continue to have faith in You. We are so thankful for the glorious, unlimited resources of the Holy Spirit, Who provides us with mighty, inner strengthening for our life's journey with You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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