"But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8
I love this Scripture. I came across it yesterday while sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office. It is amazing how God will speak right to your heart right what you need even in the strangest of places. The image in this passage is of a tree that is planted along a riverbank. The Scripture states that the tree has roots that reach deep into the water, and when the heat comes and when the long months of drought come, the tree is not bothered. It stays green and keeps producing fruit.
What a beautiful illustration of our walk with Christ! As we put our trust in the Lord, when we make God our Hope and our Confidence, when we abide in Him and allow our roots to grow deep into the Living Water, we will not be bothered when the heat of trials come into our life. I know many people who are struggling right now with trials, and sometimes it seems like the trials will never end. But if we let our roots grow deep in Him, we can remain "green." The word green in this passage is a symbol of life. As Christians, our life is in Christ and not the cares of this world, and nothing can steal the abundant life that is in Christ. Jesus Culture has a new album out, and one of the songs on the album is "Alive in You." The chorus states, "Even in the fire, I'm alive in You." When the heat comes, when the drought comes, we are still green. We are still alive in Christ.
Not only are we alive, but we are producing fruit. We still produce joy in the midst of our circumstances, because our joy is not in our circumstances, but it is in Jesus Christ and the assurance of our salvation. We still have faith in spite of what it looks like, because our faith is in the One Who holds us in the palm of His hand. We still have peace - a peace that cannot be explained, because we are resting in His promises knowing that He is faithful. We still have patience knowing God is using our present circumstances to refine us as gold and that when we make it to the other side, we will be more like Him. We still demonstrate love for God and for others even in the midst of our hurt and our pain, because God has already given us the greatest Gift of love through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You. Thank You that You are so good to me. All week You have spoken and encouraged me - through my personal devotions, songs I hear, Wednesday night Bible study, even at the doctor's office! You confirm Your Word and Your love for me over and over again. I am truly grateful. I pray that my confidence would not be in what my circumstances may seem, but that my confidence would be in You. You are my Hope, my Refuge, my Very Present Help in times of trouble. I pray that I would continually abide in You, that my roots would grow deep in Your Living Water, so that when the heat comes, I will not even be bothered. Wow! What a picture of such contentment! Life doesn't even ruffle my feathers, because You've got my back, and my front, and my sides, and my top, and my bottom. With You, I am ready to face life, to live the abundant life full of love, joy, peace, patience, and faith. Thank You, Jesus, for all You are to me. I pray for my friends and family who may need to hear this word this morning. May it encourage and uplift them so that they too can live the abundant life and produce fruit even in the times of drought. In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen.
