Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He 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 (NIV)
Jesus has ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. We are here on earth, awaiting his return on Judgment Day. What are we supposed to do while we wait?
The prophet Jeremiah makes a case that the most important thing for us to do is trust the Lord’s promises. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness. He forgives wickedness, rebellion, and sin. He calls us to repentance and faith, and says that we can be confident in his ability and his willingness to forgive us because of everything that Jesus has done.
Jeremiah says that the life of a person who trusts the Lord’s promises looks like the life of a tree with a reliable water source. No matter what the season or the weather, such a tree continues its life cycle and bears fruit. Our reliable water source is the promises of God.
The context of Jeremiah’s encouragement is to trust those promises more than the promises of human beings, and even more than the promises of our own hearts. While we wait for Jesus to return, people will disappoint us, and things we are completely convinced of will prove to be untrue. But the promises of God will never disappoint us, and his Word will always prove to be true.
Do not fear. Do not worry. God can handle whatever comes into your life. He promises that through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord God, teach me to put my trust in you and fill me with confidence that your promises will not fail. In the fearful experiences and worrisome circumstances of life, bless me with a calm trust in your faithful love through Jesus. Amen.
Living Hope Church 