“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
(Jeremiah 17:7,8)
In these verses, God compares the one who trusts in the Lord to a tree. He who trusts in the Lord has roots in God. You know, the roots are the part of the plant that is not visible, but that ensures its sustenance. It is the root that analyzes the soil and finds the best path to reach the water, without which it cannot sustain itself. We have to take into consideration that the journey for the root to find water is not easy and is hidden from everyone’s sight. However, there’s a reward for all that hard work. According to verse 8, it does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
Due to the humidity of the earth, the plant knows the direction in which its roots will have to extend much further, out of sight of everyone, until they reach the stream to have the sustenance and strength that the tree needs. What’s the consequence of that, though? The result is that the plant does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves always remain green. No matter what’s going on outside, the root simply doesn’t care about it. It is not being influenced by outside. It is being influenced by what has been determined underground, out of sight of people.
Likewise, we shouldn’t be influenced by circumstances, predictions, or the adversities surrounding us. Especially because Jesus warned us in John 16:33 that in this world we would have trouble. He told us that the heat, the drought would come. However, Jesus also taught us in Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you“. Therefore, it is what we live out of sight that will impress those who live in sight. When we have our roots firmly planted in God, we are sure that we are not alone. So, there’s nothing to worry about or to fear. Our roots, our hope, our joy, our strength and hope must be established in the Lord. He is our source.
Prayer: Dear Father, I want to have my roots firmly planted in you. This way I won’t fear what may come from outside. You are my source, my joy, and my life purpose. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
