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

I was reading today about Palm trees. It is very interesting what really happens when they are in the mist of a storm. I am sure we have all seen pictures or in person of palm trees in the mist of a storm. Not just a rain shower…..but a storm. Winds blowing so hard that the palm tress are completely bent over. Their limbs touching the ground. Have you ever wondered why they don’t break…????? Have you ever wondered that when the storm is finally over….when the rain stops and the winds seize they just bounce right back up?

Well I learned today that when a palm tree is hunched over in the mist of a storm. When it is being blown against the ground……it is actually getting stronger. These palm trees actually come out of the storm stronger and better than before. Go ahead and say it…….REALLY????? It shocked me too. But what doesn’t amaze me though is that God used something as simple as a palm tree to give us a lesson in life.

When you learn about palm trees you will realize the reason God used them to describe the righteous. When a child of God has planted himself in the word of God, seeking the Kingdom of God first, completely resting upon his promises, his eyes solely on Him and Him alone, he too will not be destroyed by a storm. Yes there may storms that come along that make their limbs touch the ground….but when the storm subsides and the sun comes out……they just bounce right back up with their hands lifted high in praise…………..They come out stronger…..and better…..Now these storms may have blew some leaves off, may have broken a few dead limbs……..but after the storm, after all the winds, they are standing tall.

Is started reflecting upon my life this evening after reading such a powerful article….and realized that through all the storms in my life……the small storms that just blew some leaves off…..
* Loosing a lifelong friend because I choose to walk with The Lord.
* A family member not speaking to me because I would not agree with their wrong.
* Loosing a dead end job.

through the really bad storms that blew my limbs completely to the ground……
* Loosing my precious baby I wanted to conceive for ten years.
* Watching my children choose to walk down a very hard road of drugs and alcohol.
* Being abused by a man who I thought loved me.
* Hurt and judged by friends that I thought had my back and was lifting me up in prayer.
* Loosing my dad before I had the chance to say I was sorry for what I said to him in anger.
* Being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

after all them…..and so many more……great and small…… I bounced back up. Maybe not instantly ….but I recovered ……and not only recovered but came out stronger and better because of them.

So take a few moments…….and think about the storms in life that you have encountered…….think about how you were before the storm????? How your where in the storm????? and how are you now after the storm??????? Then thank the good Lord for them.

Prayer:
Thank you Lord …..Thank you for each an every storm in my life. Although some were harder than others, and some i honestly did not know if I could get through…….but you held out your hand and took mine and brought me through every one of them. Thank you for giving me strength to bounce back….courage to stand tall………Thank you for making me a BOUNCE BACK KIND OF PERSON……..I know that there will be more storms that I will have to face…some I am sure will be the force of a hurricane ….but I will keep believing, keep standing firm on your word and promises, keep praying, and keep choosing to be a BOUNCE BACK KIND OF PERSON!!!!! Because I know that when all the storms of this life have subsided I will be a better and stronger woman of God!!!!!!!!

In Jesus name, Amen