Listen

They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds.

Psalm 1:3

Think

It’s striking to me that the truly happy people described in Psalm 1 are “like a tree re-planted by streams of water.” It’s actually pretty hard to successfully re-plant a tree. When they’re dug up and moved, trees lose big parts of their root systems, and they often struggle to adapt to their new home. This is called “transplant shock,” and it can cause trees to stop bearing fruit and make their leaves fade too soon. Some trees wither from transplant shock. But others find a way to thrive.

If we devote ourselves to deepening our faith and growing in our relationship with God, we can become like those transplanted trees that manage to thrive. Having faith doesn’t mean that we won’t go through hard things, but it does mean that we’ll be more resilient when we do. Even when we suffer, God will stay with us, help us put down new roots, and give us all the courage we need to survive and thrive.

Catherine Healy

Pray

Holy God, sometimes I feel like a tree whose roots have been ripped up. Help me remember that I have a firm foundation in you, and help me bloom where I am (re)planted. Amen.

Go

Jesus promises to pray for all of us. How is he praying for you right now?