Cypress And Myrtle

Tag: Prayer

  • Cypress and Myrtle: A Promise For Every Season

    Some of you may be wondering why I chose to name this blog Cypress and Myrtle. A quick search in the Bible leads to Isaiah 55:12–13:

    “You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
    the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
    and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.
    Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
    This will be for the Lord’s renown,
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

    These verses were shared with me at my baptism, and they’ve been etched in my heart ever since. They’ve whispered hope during dark seasons and magnified joy in times of celebration.

    From Exile to Hope

    Isaiah 55 was written during a painful time in Israel’s history – their exile in Babylon. They were a displaced people, longing for freedom, identity, and peace. It was in this context that God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, painting a vision of restoration; hope for a future filled with renewal and joy.

    Why Cypress and Myrtle?

    In verse 13, the thornbush is replaced by the cypress (sometimes translated juniper), and the brier by the myrtle. These are deeply symbolic plants.

    The cypress is tall, evergreen, and strong—often associated with life, endurance, and eternal hope.

    The myrtle, with its fragrant leaves and white blossoms, is a symbol of peace, joy, and divine blessing in Jewish tradition.

    Together, they represent a transformation from pain to beauty, from despair to delight, from exile to restoration.

    This speaks to the very heart of God’s nature. He doesn’t just remove the thorns in our lives. He replaces them with something better. Something beautiful. Something enduring.

    A Name and a Reminder

    I named this blog Cypress and Myrtle to remind myself and hopefully others, that we are never stuck in the wilderness forever. Whether we’re walking through sorrow or standing on a mountaintop, God’s promises still hold. He is always working to bring about renewal and restoration.

    This space is where I hope to share stories, reflections, and everyday moments where I see God’s hand turning thorn bushes into cypress trees, and briers into blossoming myrtle.

    No matter where you are in your journey, may these verses remind you: there is purpose in the waiting, hope in the silence, and beauty still to come.

  • The Lion Who Cannot Be Tamed

    In a Christian marriage, there are always three persons: you, your spouse, and the Third l, a Lion who cannot be tamed.

    We often forget this.
    We focus on each other just the two of us and slowly, subtly, the Lion is pushed to the edge. Sometimes to the background.
    But He never forces Himself.
    He waits.
    He waits to be invited back into the very center.

    But let us not invite Him only to keep Him safe and contained. Not in the corner. Not in a box.

    No. He is a Lion who cannot be tamed.

    As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe:
    “He’s not a tame lion… But he is good.”

    This is the nature of Aslan, and the nature of our God.
    He is holy. Fierce. Just. Loving beyond measure.
    And when we give Him full reign in our marriage, He does not sit quietly.
    He roars.

    He fights for us.
    He binds us together when we feel like falling apart.
    He walks us through the shadows, and leads us back into the light.

    His love is unyielding.
    His presence is wild not reckless, but full of righteous purpose.

    So let Him run free through every part of your marriage:
    Over your joy and laughter.
    Over your sorrow and silence.
    Over your doubts and your prayers.

    Because the Lion who cannot be tamed is not just a symbol. He is the Living God. Holy and near. Majestic and merciful.

    And He will never leave you.
    Not now. Not ever.