The answer was “because it puts out its blossoms while the snow is still on the ground.”
I read that, and naturally, I had to know a little more. I discovered that the plum tree is one of the first trees to bloom in late winter/early spring. In a manner of speaking, it is one of the first to venture out, even though a late frost may mean disaster for that year's crop. The tree stands for courage in the Orient because it exercises courage while other trees are still in their winter's nap.
I’m challenged by that. Too many times we Christians won't move ahead until we are absolutely sure it is “safe.” We don’t like to step out until the “winter” is over and we know for certain that the danger is past.
Too often I only move forward for God when there is a fairly reasonable expectation for success.
What about you?
Perhaps we all need to pray that God would give us a “Plum Tree Faith.” You know, the kind of faith that blossoms in the face of circumstances that appear bleak and discouraging--a courageous faith.
J. Oswald Sanders wrote once, “There is no conceivable situation in which it is not safe to trust God.”
We may go through periods of time in our lives when we have doubts, because God seems to be too silent, but we know God has been faithful to us in all our yesterdays. We’ve got to keep on trusting in Jesus. He was there for us all last week. He was there for us all last month. He was there for us all last year. In fact, there has never been a time when God was not faithful. There has never been a situation that was too difficult for Jesus.
So when the snow is falling in your life, ask God to give you an extra measure of courage. Just on the other side of winter is a beautiful Spring.
--Rocky Henriques, www.uticabc.com