Since we are, on the whole in the US, just starting to come out of the heavy influence of the pandemic, it might seem a little early or premature to talk about flourishing. Yet for those who are children of God and live, in actuality, in the Kingdom of Light wherein is the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings, it’s always a likely time, and it’s even good to do so!
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines flourishing as:
~ marked by vigorous and healthy growth
~ very active and successful
I’m really drawn to that word “flourishing”! And I’m really drawn to trees, in nearly all of their astounding variety! Vigorous, healthy, growing trees are striking ~ they’re uplifting to see and watch. If nothing else, trees are encouraging because even with the trees that drape, trees always draw our focus upwards! I rarely think of myself as flourishing, but flourishing sounds good and appealing to me ~ healthy, growing, splendid ~ I’d love to be flourishing! But the truth is, as beloved children of God, always held in the sure hands of our loving, never-failing God, we’re always flourishing, whether we feel like it or not. Feelings can be faulty; the truth of God never fails.
As you’ll see in the following from the Word of God, flourishing is for us!
When the Scriptures repeat themselves, it’s good to pay attention! Repetition means there’s something the Lord wants us to pay attention to, see, and learn. The Word of God has loads to say about trees ~ through all the length and breadth of scripture, but here are a few passages which recently have stood out to me. They caught my attention because of their similarities, the repetition, and their emphasis on flourishing…
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age
they will stay fresh and green,
proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
He is my Rock,
and there is no wickedness in him.”
~ Palm 92: 12-15
But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.
For what You have done I will always praise You
in the presence of Your faithful people.
And I will hope in Your name,
for Your name is good.
~ Psalm 52:8-9
Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But their delight is in the Law of the Lord,
And on His Law they meditate day and night.
They will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither
whatever they do prospers.
~ Psalm 1:3
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
And whose trust is the Lord
For they will be like a tree planted by the water
That extends its roots by a stream,
And does not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought,
Nor cease to yield fruit.
~ Jeremiah 17:7-8