I'm learning a lot from my Texas Sage. Three months of Texas triple digits didn't faze my plants. Oh, I watered them along with the other plants. But then the heat broke, and the Central Texas skies broke down into three days of a long awaited deluge! The downpour battered those poor sage plants. A week passed. I figured all possible buds were history. But no. I checked Sunday and buds were forming. By Wednesday, both of my Texas sages were bursting with a sea of lavender blooms!

Resilience.

I'm learning more about resilience. It's not just enduring, not just toughing it out, or survival. It also doesn't mean we are unscathed, unaffected by our walk in the valley.

Resilience means we come out of the trial stronger.

But how?

Jesus told us there'd be trouble in this world.

John 16:33 says, " I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

He knew this sin-broken world would challenge us with death, disease, and heart-break.

Taking heart: Our faith in Him gives us the "heart" and the peace to move forward. Our trust that His presence with us is guiding us through the path He has designed to grow us closer to Him.

And the grace He provides is enough. His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

And through Him, we blossom again.

2 Corinthians 12:9 says. "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."