I love palm trees! They’re so pretty and they give me a sense of peace. I look at them and automatically think of tropical paradise. I think of rest and relaxation. I think of laying on the beach under a palm tree, sipping on a cold piña colada. Ahhh… if only I could be on vacation 24/7.

But I’m reminded of the Psalm that says, “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. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green” (Psalm‬ ‭92‬:‭12-14).

There’s a reason why we long for r&r. We weren’t meant to live crazy, chaotic, out of control lives. But we don’t have to live in paradise or be on vacation 24/7 to find rest and renewal. Like the verse explains, if we stay connected to our source, which is God, we will flourish and grow beautifully. The image this verse paints for me is of a person whose life, body and mind looks bright, lively and strong. It doesn’t look withered or hanging by a thread.

Now, how can we attain that?! Our days are filled with demands and crazy schedules and deadlines! Some days it seems like I just woke up and I’m already hopping into bed for the night. The key is to not allow the demands of life become more important than our relationship with God and others. What do you need to do today to find rest and renewal in God?  Maybe it means managing your time better so you can spend time with your family. Maybe it means saying no to an invitation so you can read God’s word. Perhaps it means going for a walk instead of binge watching a show on Netflix. Or maybe it means leaving some of that to-do list undone. (It’s ok if we don’t get it all done today).

Be encouraged today to find rest and relaxation, even after vacation, in your daily walk with God.

Fun fact: My last name means palm tree in Spanish… (Theresa Palma) 😉