I want to talk today a little bit about flowers. Here in the state of Texas, our state flower is the bluebonnet. The Texas Bluebonnet is a very beautiful flower and member of the lupine family of flowers. The state of Texas has seen it fit to seed it and sow seeds of the Texas Bluebonnet all along the Texas highways. In a really good year, you will see many, many beautiful Bluebonnets begin to appear in early April, and they will bloom for about a month. During this time of year you can take a scenic drive along the highways and byways of Texas and witness one of the greatest marvels of nature.  Years ago, the State of Texas decided they're going to pick a state flower. After many choices were weighed, the decision came down to two possibilities: the Texas Bluebonnet and the Prickly Pear Cactus Flower. The Prickly Pear Cactus blooms begin in in late April or early May unto the end of June. Most often it is a yellow flower, but depending upon conditions it may produce orange or red flowers.

This year in 2025, Bluebonnets really didn't do very well. There was not enough rain last fall and at the right time. Bluebonnets need rain, but that rain has to fall at the right time. So far this year we have had a decent amount of rain, but it did not come at the right time for the Bluebonnets to really bloom.  There are a few patches that are really nice, but for the most part, there's not much there. The Texas Bluebonnet  will not bloom if there is a drought. So in drought years, the Texas  Bluebonnets go dormant, and they stay that way. On the other hand, the Prickly Pear Cactus Flower blooms no matter what. It doesn't depend upon a lot of rain, because the cactus thrives in drought conditions and will bloom even under difficult circumstances. It will bloom regardless of the external weather circumstances.

This reminds me a little bit of some people how their happiness, even their faith, depends upon their external circumstances. Take for instance, in the book of Job that we read how Job was a great man. In fact, the Bible says he was the greatest man in the East. And more important than that he was very righteous man. God had blessed him with extreme wealth, He had many, many flocks, and many, many servants. Job and his wife had been blessed with ten children.

The Bible tells us that because Job was a “blameless and upright”  man the devil chose to attack him.  (Job 1:8) Consequently, there was a single day in which Job suffered incredible loss. The devil caused all of his flocks and herds to be destroyed and most of his servants to be killed.  Most tragic of all, Job’s ten children were all killed! All of this in one horribly bad day! Take note of Job’s reaction to all of this. “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” (Job 1:20-22 NKJV) None of these things took away Job's faith. But the devil wasn't through with his attacks. He makes another attack upon Job's health, and he destroys Job's health. “So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” (Job 2:7 NKJV)

And so Job is sitting there in abject misery covered with painful sores, and he is able to get no relief whatsoever. One would think that his wife would be very sympathetic toward him, but remember she is suffering too. She had once enjoyed the same blessings  that Job had enjoyed. She had been right there alongside him. I have no doubt that when things were going well, she was very happy and thankful. But you have to consider that she's gone through a lot of trauma of her own. She lost her children! Wealth can be replaced, but the loss of her adult children was irreconcilable.  Take note of her grieving words,  "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!"  (Job 2:9 NKJV) Job and his wife are facing the worst “drought” in their lifetime together. Here Job’s wife is not “blooming.” At this point in her life, she is not shining forth the glory of God in her life and faith. She is like the Texas Bluebonnet in a drought – not blossoming!

Job on the other hand is like the Prickly Pear Cactus Flower! His faith is not dependent upon his external circumstances.  Notice his reaction to her words, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10 NKJV) And then notice what Job later says when has been challenged by his so-called friends.  Notice what Job says about his faith. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.” (Job 13:15-16 NKJV)

Job maintains his integrity, his faith in God throughout all of this process. He has many questions and a few doubts, but over all he never loses his faith in God! And as we come to the end of the book of Job, we see that he endured and because he endured, God blessed him once more. “And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before… Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters.” (Job 42:10, 12-13 NKJV)

And so we see that in the end, God blessed Job because he blossomed even during the worst “drought” of his life. He was like that cactus flower and his faith never wavered throughout all of his ordeals. Notice what the Bible says about Job’s faith, “ My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:10-11 NKJV)

There may be a “time of drought” in your life. Don't lose your faith and hide it like the Texas Bluebonnet under unfavorable conditions, but rather blossom as Job did, even in a difficult time in your life. You can blossom because God is there with you if you His faithful child.  But be a Prickly Pear Cactus Flower!