In an earlier blog, I shared some thoughts about lessons I have been learning from the story of Moses in Exodus 15. 

Moses had led the people of Israel out of Egypt, but their journey wasn’t smooth and had many, many difficulties. The people had recently seen God do a great miracle by turning the bitter water of Marah into water they could drink, and now they were about to receive an even greater blessing. 

In Exodus 15 verse 27, it says: ‘Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.’ 

I love how these verses point to a God who is ‘more than enough.’ He had already supplied drinking water for them, but now He led them to an oasis which was an extra, unexpected blessing. It was waiting around the corner, just for them! 

As we find ourselves in this continuing, unprecedented, bitter storm which is affecting not just us but the whole world, this verse comes back to mind: ‘The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.’

Did you know that palm trees are designed to withstand severe tropical storms? When the storm comes, they don’t break, but instead they bend with the wind and heavy rain. It looks as though they are breaking, but they are actually just adapting to the wind. When the storm passes, the area where the palm tree has almost been torn in two is actually stronger than it was before the storm.

During this prolonged difficult time that we are all going through, I feel God reminding us that we are like a palm tree in the storm of life. When this is over, we are going to fall right back into shape, but we will also be stronger and able to flourish more than ever before. 

As believers, let us never forget that the Prince of Peace lives within us. We can look at our bitter storm and easily forget that He who is in us is greater than the circumstances that we are in.   

As we are facing this raging bitter storm at the moment, I want to encourage you to trust in God’s Word. He promises to be with us always, and He is our Rock, even in the middle of the fiercest trials.

Above all, Jesus said: ‘And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!’ (John 16:33 TPT).

And then in Isaiah, we are reminded: ‘When you pass through the deep, stormy sea, you can count on me to be there with you. When you pass through raging rivers, You will not drown…’ (Isaiah 43:2 TPT).

Let us hang on to the truths and wisdom found in God’s Word – He will never fail us.