Jeremiah 17:5-10
5 Thus says the Lord:
Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals
and make mere flesh their strength,
whose hearts turn away from the Lord.
6 They shall be like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see when relief comes.
They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.
7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.
9 The heart is devious above all else;
it is perverse—
who can understand it?
10 I the Lord test the mind
and search the heart,
to give to all according to their ways,
according to the fruit of their doings.
“…8 They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. …”
The image of a tree planted by water with its many roots is an excellent example of what it means to trust in the Lord. Like that tree, those who walk in the way of the Lord are not as susceptible to the difficulties and trials of life. It’s not that they don’t come. It’s just that their effects are moderated.
I’ve seen such trust make major differences in the lives of the faithful. At the time of death, for instance, those who have a solid faith grieve; but their grief is mingled with celebration knowing that their loved one dwells with Lord. Likewise, when disaster strikes, those whose trust is secure in the Lord respond with greater hope and peace.
While trusting in the Lord does not keep bad things from happening, it does, like the tree, offer hope for refreshment, renewal, and restoration. It gives the believer the knowledge that God is present, and because of that presence, all will be well.
Prayer: Lord, you are our source of hope and help, and my trust is in You. Amen.