Planted To Flourish

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. Psalm 92:12-13, NIV.

When I was a little girl growing up in Canada, I was part of an environmental club at my elementary school. For those who know me, this will come as no surprise. One year, our school launched an initiative to plant more trees. Each student was given a small evergreen and invited to replant it wherever they chose.

Excited, I brought my little tree home and carefully selected what I thought was the perfect spot in our backyard. I planted it with hope and expectation—but within a week, my perfect tree began to die.

Determined not to give up on it, my dad uprooted the evergreen, placed it in the back of our Jeep, and drove me to the forest near one of our favorite fishing spots. There, surrounded by towering trees, we dug a deep hole, replanted my sapling, watered it well, and hoped it would take root.

Every so often, my dad and I would return to that spot. We would walk through the forest searching for a small red tag tied near the top of my tree. To my amazement, it didn’t just survive—it began to grow. Year after year, it stretched taller until it eventually grew higher than me.

Its roots went deep into the forest floor and began to intertwine with the roots of the other trees. Together, they withstood strong winds, heavy rainstorms, and the harsh New Brunswick winter.

And somewhere along the way, I learned a lesson I’ve never forgotten: Without roots, a plant cannot grow.

Deeply Rooted

In Psalm 92, the psalmist draws a similar parallel. He compares the righteous to trees that flourish because they are deeply rooted—planted in the house of the Lord. Growth, strength, and endurance are all connected to where and how we are planted.

There are seasons when God lovingly uproots us because the place we are planted is no longer conducive to growth. Uprooting is uncomfortable, and at times it can feel traumatic, yet it is often an act of grace. Temporary discomfort makes room for long-term flourishing. God allows one difficult season so we can withstand many future storms.

The condition of our spiritual roots will determine whether our relationship with God is healthy or dysfunctional.

If your soul feels weary or stagnant, it may be time to replant your roots in the Lord. Root yourself daily in the Word of God and in prayer. Connect your life to the people of God, just as trees in a forest are strengthened by one another.

When your roots go deep in Him, you can flourish, even in unfavorable circumstances, and stand firm through every season of life.

This devotion was written for More To Life Today by Angela Overton.