2 Corinthians 4:17  ‘For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;’

DAILY READING     Luke 24:13-53; Genesis 44; Psalm 35

The destructive force of typhoons and hurricanes is a serious matter. In the onslaught of such strong winds, human structures are torn to shreds and regions are flooded in the blink of an eye. Trees generally lose their branches, break or are uprooted by the strength of such winds. However, it is interesting to note that, despite such destructions, the palm tree often remains unaffected and soon bounces back once the storm is over. What would completely shred an oak tree sometimes seem to barely ruffle a palm tree.  But how does the palm tree survive  such violent storms?

Lack of conventional structure is what gives the palm its flexibility. Unlike traditional trees, palm trees are not made of wood. While the palm tree is technically a tree, they are actually more closely related to grass, corn and rice, than they are to other trees. Some of its cells are malleable, and others can easily flex and then return to their original position. This arrangement has helped the palm tree flourish in windy tropical areas. After hurricane Katrina , which was one of the worst hurricanes that ever devastated the U.S, many palm trees survived unaffected. While bigger trees snapped like toothpicks in the hurricane wind , the palm trees remained unbroken. This is because of their genetic make-up of strong roots and flexibility. The palm tree can bend, even flatten almost horizontal to the ground, yet not break. The main stems of some palm species can bend as much as 40 to 50 degrees but once the storm is over, it just pops back up to its original position.

The same can be true of us as believers when we trust in God. When David said in Psalm 92 that the righteous will flourish like the Palm Tree, it means that despite the storms of life, they will survive, rise again, and keep prospering. In fact, the storms only come to make them stronger. They may bend, but they are getting right back up again! The dictionary describes  resilience as  the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched.

God knew that we would experience times of being stretched and being compressed. But despite the tough times, we will come back—even stronger than we were before. Oftentimes, God uses the challenges and trials that come our way to prepare us for the unveiling of His glory in our lives.

2 Corinthians 4:17 says  ‘For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;’

Sometimes, the reason for the storm, is because of the glory about to be revealed in you. When an airplane is about to rise higher, it often experiences turbulence. Many times, God uses those turbulent experiences to refine us and take us higher. Through great storms, the palm tree not only survives but thrives stronger.

Psalm 92:12 says  ‘The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.’

And like the palm tree, you will keep flourishing despite oppositions. Therefore see challenges as opportunities to grow. Trust that God is too faithful to allow you to be tempted more than you are able to handle. To survive the storm, keep your heart strong through diligent study of God’s Word. As The Word dominates your heart, your faith will be strong, and you will be like the house built on the rock. And though the rain, wind and storm, come, you will remain standing and never fall. Indeed you are indefatigable. You are built to last. The stronger one lives in you, and because He lives, you shall live also.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to stand strong despite the fierce winds of oppositions. I thank You for the grace to diligently study Your Word, so that through faith in You, I will always rise stronger and better through every storm in Jesus Name.

QUOTE:

True success is not verifiable in the fact that a man has never fallen before but in the fact that he did not only fall but also got up.