Psalms 1 teaches us about a tree that flourishes beside rivers of living water.

So picture this; You’re walking down a road and suddenly sight a tree — which on the one side has lush green leaves and on the other side has dry stems with no leaf sticking out. I’m sure the sight would be as puzzling for you as it would be for me.

Most of us are acquainted with types of the fig tree with no leaves in certain seasons (deciduous trees) or trees that retain their leaves regardless of the season (evergreen trees).

If I were to ask you to hazard a guess, do you think there are more evergreen trees than deciduous trees in the world?

It turns out that of the 3 million trees globally, evergreen trees form about 67% of those trees.

Of course, I haven’t seen a tree that is deciduous on one side or evergreen on the other. It is a really rare find. But I’m going somewhere with that.

The picture Psalms 1:3 paints is the picture of an evergreen tree. A tree that bears his fruit in season, but whose leaves never wither. That picture is so striking because it shows the emphasis on being evergreen as always having leaves and not being evergreen as always bearing fruits.

Across scripture, blessed men are likened to trees, so it’s quite important to draw a lot of lessons from the man-to-tree analogy. Alongside a very micro-degree in horticulture, there are a few thoughts I would like to leave with you.

The first imperative is the proximity of trees to water. Trees grow by finding and tapping into sources of water regardless of their environment. For a tree, the distance of water doesn’t become an excuse for not growing, a tree puts more pressure on the evolution and adaptation of its systems to reach and find water than on the excuse of not finding water. A picture that comes to mind is that tree shoot you find in the desert, that seems to always grow in dry and harsh environments. Water is a non-negotiable ingredient for growth.

So also for us, the path to blessedness is being planted beside water. Regardless of the situation we find ourselves at any point in time, the evolution worth celebrating is how against all odds, we still find ourselves in proximity to scriptures, and to good counsel.

Another point worth drawing is that water is always available. You would think that trees would not grow in deserts but alas they do. We must learn to grow deep roots in harsh environments and not constantly complain that our roots are too short to find water in dry seasons. Let me encourage you with this, if you find yourself in a harsh environment, it’s because God has confidence in your ability to evolve and adapt to develop thick and deep roots to draw water. You can draw water for growth in harsh and tough seasons.

The second lesson we draw is that as long as a tree is planted beside and reaching water, there is hope for growth. Don’t let anyone place authoritative finality on a delayed spurting. If you’re overtly excited by your spurting than your rooting, so much so that every time you don’t see a spurting, you motion to uproot your tree, soon you won’t have enough roots to support your growth. The Bible calls it the discipline of faith (believing that you are growing, you’re getting better as long as you are planted by the rivers of water) and patience (giving yourself grace to wait through your delayed spurting seasons) to inherit the promise.

Remember the rare portrait I painted for you earlier? The rarity of that picture speaks to the oddity of deciding to be lush green in one area of our lives and not applying that same effort to other areas. Psalms 1 tells us two things, He may bear fruit in one season (one aspect, one area of his life today) but he still has leaves on his tree ( read as he is growing in others). It further emphasizes, that whatsoever he does prospers.

The reason the writer believes it’s possible is because that tree is planted beside rivers of living waters. Two things are striking — it’s rivers of water which speaks to several tributaries with essence and content that spurs development across various areas of our lives. The second is that it’s living water emphasizing its ability and relevance to speak to you regardless of how grown you are. It’s not stale water, it’s living water. I can always and continue to grow when I am postured beside the Word. The lesson this leaves us with is the imperative for well-rounded growth. It’s God’s desire that we grow, flourish and bud across the different areas of our lives expression. The reason you have not borne fruit yet in that area should be because it’s not yet the season and not because there are no leaves. Leaves speak to our intentionality to receive evidenced by our preparation.

Summarily, I want you to walk away from this article, not just with a decision to be a plant mom or dad, but to relocate your water source and stop giving yourself excuses for not connecting to water, to be encouraged that you can grow and are growing, to use your roots to find rivers of living water.

Have a blessed week ahead.

For His glory and His renown,

Olayinka Adebayo

@layinkadebayo

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