This Surprising Florist’s Trick Has a Message for You

Flowers remind me of the beautiful intricacy of God’s creation, and they make me smile even during homebound days. Typically, my favorite flowers are peach and pink English garden roses. But as my health declines, I have begun to enjoy the vibrancy of brightly colored tulips. These lively flowers seem to take on a life of their own when their stems bend this way and that.

Drooping flowers are still lovely, but I was determined to discover how to strengthen the stems. A quick internet search led me to this florist’s trick: Tossing a few U.S. pennies into a vase of tulips keeps the stems sturdy!

A few days after I dropped pennies into the vase water, something interesting happened. Their petals still faded, but their stems grew stronger, and the entire bunch of tulips perked back up. The penny has a trace amount of copper which strengthens the stem to hold the flower upright throughout its entire lifespan.

Valiant faith remains even when physical vitality wanes.

Today, I feel like those upright tulips; my vitality is fading but my faith is flourishing. God provides the peace of His presence despite any prognosis. Recent scans show that my cancer progressed faster than we had expected. Fatigue fills my days and pain fills my nights, but I’ve learned to trust God’s purpose in my suffering. He is the strength that carries me through this season. His steadfast Word never fails, and my hope in Jesus Christ anchors my soul in peace.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our Lord will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8 ESV

Have you searched for the strength and courage to endure a difficult diagnosis, devastating prognosis, or season of suffering? The same penny that strengthens a tulip holds a message that will strengthen you, too.

Image of a penny with “IN GOD WE TRUST” written on the coin.

Trusting God will strengthen you throughout every season of your life.

Copper may strengthen a tulip’s stem, but faith is the element that strengthens us when we begin wilting from the heat of our hardships. Beloved, continue to trust in the Lord so you will remain upright, stand firm, and have the strength to flourish.

Do you need faith to flourish today? God’s Word* strengthens faith, so tuck these truths into your heart:

“He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me” (Psalm 23:3-4 NLT).

“My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my life and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,  because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal” (Isaiah 26:3-4).

“Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31 NLT).

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).

“Blessed is the one....whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil; this will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).

 *All Scripture is New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.