flourish.

What does the word flourish mean to you?

I instantly imagine a plush garden full of beautiful plants and trees when I hear the word flourish. I see bright colors, liveliness, and good health….someone clothed in serenity, contentment, and calmness. I also hear success, promotion, and progress. All of these sound good, right?

To flourish can mean many different things for many different people, but I'm sure we can all agree that it means doing and feeling good. If asked if you were flourishing, what would your response be? To flourish, one must be positioned appropriately. And sometimes, depending on where you are planted, you may not feel like you're in the position to prosper.

Sometimes things happen to us that make us feel overwhelmed, and we may find ourselves in a place of discontentment. Does this mean we’re in the wrong position? Maybe sometimes it does, but other times it doesn’t. Sometimes where we're positioned is the result of life happening. That’s it, nothing too deep or too grand to understand. We go about our daily business, and we get that phone call that someone is being hospitalized. Or we're notified that our position at work is no longer needed. What abut unexpected car trouble? The car gives out, and we have to figure out how to cover the costs and take care of other financial responsibilities. How do you respond in these situations?

When faced with financial emergencies, health scares, emotional rollercoasters...I’ve learned that the longer we live, the more we will experience troubles of all kinds. BUT also, the more we experience adversity, the stronger we will become. The Bible tells us in Romans 5:3-5 that “suffering produces endurance.” So even in the midst of life happening, we can still flourish, we can still move forward and THRIVE! There is something beautifully amazing about the way plants develop over time. Although blooming times vary, they share a common truth: to bloom, there must be roots. The same is true for us! How we respond in difficult situations is a clear indicator of where are roots are planted. To flourish, our hearts must be deeply rooted in Christ and not the uncertainties we face daily. He is the Gardener of our hearts, and although we may not always feel it, His love has equipped us to bloom right where we are.

Feel free to comment below. We want to hear from you!

Be Blessed, Find Rest, & Share Goodness! ✨