Transplanted

But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. (Psalm 92:12-14)

Have you ever transplanted something, only to have it look kind of droopy and on the verge of death afterwards? I know the plant goes through a bit of 'shock' with its roots being exposed, kind of like us when God takes us from one place of comfort in our walk with him and begins to move us onto 'bigger and better' things with him. God never disturbs our 'comfort' at one level of growth unless he has plans for us to grow bigger by moving us into a different 'pot' in life. 

I live in the Arizona desert and know that palm trees seem to do very well here. They aren't many 'native' to this area - only the fan palm found in the Kofa National Wildlife Preserve near Yuma. There are other varieties found here, though. Date, Queen, Mexican Blue, Areca, and other types of palms growing here, but none of them are native to this area. They had to be transplanted from their 'natural' growth zone into this one. Most of them grow quite well here. Why? They become accustomed to the soil, heat, winds, and lack of rains we have here. You won't find coconuts here, though. Why? They won't adapt to this climate or this soil.

We might not be accustomed to the new soil God has planted us into today, but rest assured that he doesn't move us into places where he knows we will not thrive. We will 'adapt' to the 'soil' he has prepared for us in whatever the next 'transplant' will be for us. We can be certain that he will 'tend' the soil, provide the right 'climate' and create the right 'growth opportunities' for us wherever he places us. It is only when we put our roots down in the places he hasn't prepared for us that we have a hard time 'adapting' and 'flourishing'. Just sayin!