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The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing – Psalm 92:12-14

The economies of nations and the global economy are failing. With rising inflation rate, increase in unemployment rates, high cost of living, rise in poverty rates, trade deficits, rising national debts, wars, etc., all these are but the beginning of sorrow, says Christ (Matthew 24:6-8). As a result of these occurrences, many are beginning to wonder if there is hope in sight. The things that are happening now shouldn’t be strange to the believer in Christ as these things were prophesied by the Holy Scriptures. Even Christ never left us in the dark as He pointed out the signs of the last days (Matthew 24 and Mark 13). 

Amidst whatever challenges we may be going through, the word of God still holds. Amid the storm, God has made special provision for the sustenance and preservation of the righteous. The fulfillment of God’s promises cannot be hindered by pressing economic challenges, such times provide the opportunity for God’s word to find full fulfillment.

Amidst whatever challenges we may be going through, the word of God still holds true. Amid the storm, God has made special provision for the sustenance and preservation of the righteous. The fulfillment of God’s promises cannot be hindered by pressing economic challenges, such times provide the opportunity for God’s word to find full fulfillment.

The Likeness of the Righteous to a Palm Tree

The Bible says, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree…” (Psalm 92:12a). Why does God liken the righteous to a palm tree? The palm tree is an ever-green tree that does not shed its leaves like other plants do in dry season. Whether in summer or winter, the palm tree remains ever-green. It flourishes irrespective of the season, and some species based on research can grow up to 200 feet and some live up to a century. In addition, the palm tree is a notable economic tree such that every part of it (from the root to the fronds) is very useful. What God is saying is that the righteous shall thrive irrespective of the circumstances surrounding them at the time. Like the palm tree, the righteous is meant to be relevant and fruitful even in old age (Psalm 92:14).  The flourishing of the righteous is not dependent on the conditions set by the happenings in the world. The high inflation rate and the failing economic systems of the world cannot invalidate the word of God. God’s word says, irrespective of all of these ‘unfavourable’ conditions, the righteous would still be ‘fat and flourishing’.

The flourishing of the righteous is not dependent on the conditions set by the happenings in the world. The high inflation rate and the failing economic systems of the world cannot invalidate the word of God. 

Conditions for Flourishing in Hard Times

The biblical promises of God are conditional on our obedience to His commands. God’s promises are not automatically fulfilled, even for the righteous. We see this conditional pattern repeated again and again in several passages of the Scriptures (Leviticus 26:3-4; Deuteronomy 28:1; Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 91:1; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Matthew 5:3-9). Below are some of the conditions for flourishing in these times.

Walk in Righteousness: The Scripture in Psalm 92:12 says, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree…” This promise is not for all but for the righteous. Who is a righteous person? He is upright and lives the God-approved way of life. This righteousness was made possible by the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. By ourselves, no one would have been able to attain God’s righteousness because all our righteousness put together is like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). The Bible says, “Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him to share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21, GNB). The grace to have a right standing with God was bestowed from the day we came into union with Christ, therefore, stop making excuses for your failure to live righteously; it is possible by the grace of God. The Apostle John made it clear in 1 John 3:7: “Let no one deceive you, my children! Whosoever does what is right is righteous, just as Christ is righteous”. So, the first condition for enjoying all the promises of God is that you must be righteous, and the implication of this is that you must be born again. It is after this, that you can receive the power for righteousness as a child of God (John 1:12). Aside from this, several other promises abound for the righteous in the Scriptures: The righteous shall flourish as a branch (Proverbs 11:28); the desire of the righteous shall be granted (Proverbs 10:24); God’s secret is with the righteous (Proverbs 3:32); God blesses and favours the righteous (Psalm 5:12); it shall be well with the righteous (Isaiah 3:10); the righteous is bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1); the children of the righteous shall be delivered (Proverbs 11:21). These are but few of the many benefits that righteousness affords the child of God. So, it is important to note that your flourishing or true prosperity is dependent on your position of righteousness with God. There is a high tendency to compromise in the times that we’re in, but standing for God is a key requirement for the fulfillment of His promises in our lives, even in hard times.

Remain in Fellowship with God: The second verse of our text reads: “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Psalm 92:13). Where you’re planted will determine how well you’ll thrive spiritually and in all areas of life. The Bible says the man who will prosper in everything he does must not keep company with sinners (Pssalm1:1-3). There is the tendency to be preoccupied with lamenting over the economic turmoil of your nation, and the worries of how to make ends meet, and live in broken fellowship with God. Even the blessing of protection in Psalm 91:1 is tied to the first verse: “He that dwells in the secret place of the most high, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (emphasis mine). In Him, Paul said, we live, move and have our being because we are His offspring (Acts 17:28). When we stay in fellowship with the Lord through the Word and prayer, we draw strength to thrive even in hard times. When we stay in fellowship with Him, our faith is anchored to His promises which are capable of sustaining us in times like this.

Trust in the Lord: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from bearing fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8). In the words of Prophet Jeremiah, the man who trusts in the Lord is blessed. He shall not see when heat comes, but he will remain relevant and shall not cease from yielding fruit. This implies that, when all else fails, our hope can only be sustained by a firm trust in God. In the times that we’re in, everything is failing, but only the word of God is eternally true and sure. When we put our trust in God, we draw life and freshness in the place of dryness. It is trust in God that guarantees our sustenance by heaven’s economy in times of earthly economic depression. Christ rightly declares “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be” (Matthew 6:21). Where have you placed your heart? On money? On a man whose life is like a flower that today is and tomorrow is no more? On your business and connections? If any of these goes down, you’ll also go down with it because your heart will always be attached to your treasure. Who or what is your most cherished treasure? The wisdom of God through Solomon counseled “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

Believe and Claim God’s Promises: God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and integrity. Through his glory and integrity, he has given us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world” (2 Peter 1:3-4, GWT). The promises of God are of the highest value, incomparable to anything else. God says what He means and means what He says: “God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent…” (Numbers 23:19a). Faith in the promises of God is key to thriving in life, and even in hard times. The promises of God are in force regardless of the economic or unfavourable life circumstances as long as we walk in obedience to Him. In times like this, read, meditate, believe and enforce the promises of God in the place of prayer. The numerous promises in the Scriptures are meant to find fulfillment in the life of the believer – open up yourself to His word. The word works wonders. Let your life be immersed in and guided by the promises of God, for He is too faithful to fail you. When we trust in His promises, we provide room for easy manifestation of the same in our lives.

The promises of God are in force regardless of the economic or unfavourable life circumstances as long as we walk in obedience to Him. In times like this, read, meditate, believe and enforce the promises of God in the place of prayer. The numerous promises in the Scriptures are meant to find fulfillment in the life of the believer – open up yourself to His word.

Be at your Best: “And Elisha said unto her, what shall I do for you? Tell me what have you in the house? And she said your handmaid has not anything in the house except a pot of oil” (2Kings 4:2). The wife of the Prophet was ignorant of the potential of the pot of oil to pay her debt and sustain her family. Sometimes, economic downturns and hardships can be God’s way of bringing the best out of us. We may have great potentials that are lying dormant and inactive, which can only come alive during times of pressure. Sometimes, adversities can birth opportunities. Can you look inward? What are those potentials and special abilities God has endowed you with, and you’ve neglected for this long? Do you know that you are likely the answer to the cries and pains of your world at such a time as this? Rather than complaining and lamenting over the economic recession of your nation, why not look out for opportunities to make a difference and put a smile on someone’s face? You truly have something to offer your world like that Prophet’s wife, only look inward and tap into that invaluable treasure that God has deposited in you to be a blessing to your world. You may be here for such a time as this. Keep building capacity, keep learning the trade, keep sharpening your skills, keep serving, and brooding over that business idea. This will pay off.

We may have great potentials that are lying dormant and inactive, which can only come alive during times of pressure. Sometimes, adversities can birth opportunities.

In conclusion, God has the best for the righteous. God’s promises are not conditional on the economic situation of your nation – they always find opportunities for fulfillment. May you discover and tap into God’s provision for your life in this season and beyond for your flourishing.