In the rocky hills surrounding Jerusalem, olive trees stand rooted – twisted, weathered, resilient. Some are centuries old, possibly more. Their trunks are cracked and gnarled from the heat and time, yet they still bear fruit.
It’s no coincidence that one of the most sacred places in the Land of the Bible is filled with olive trees – the Garden of Gethsemane, whose name comes from “Gat Shemanim,” the oil press. It’s where Jesus prayed through anguish and surrender, beneath the quiet branches of these ancient trees.
These trees endure what others cannot. Drought doesn’t break them. Fire may scar them, but new shoots often grow from the roots. They are symbols of rootedness, strength, and lasting faith.
And maybe that’s the reminder we need this August.
In a world that feels increasingly unstable with news of conflict, uncertainty, and pain, it’s easy to feel uprooted. But the olive tree invites us to remain. To dig deep. To keep praying.
Even Jesus, knowing what lay ahead, chose to pray among these trees. Not for escape, but for strength.
“Not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Today, you are invited to do the same – to stand your ground, to hold fast, and to keep praying, even when the answers seem far off.
There’s a strength that comes not from escape, but from remaining – from believing that fruit can still grow in hard places.
Send your Garden of Gethsemane prayer requests, and we’ll place them near one of these enduring olive trees – a place where surrender met strength, and prayer became an offering.
