JEREMIAN 17:7-8

“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

TO PONDER:

This is a real conversation I had with a person this week. "In ten years of business, I had never been through this before, and the pressure got to me. I had no answers and I couldn't cope and went through a time of real depression. And the result of this was that I let a lot of my clients down, including you."

It was a hard admission for this person to make but one that many are familiar with. When we trust in our own resources, there comes a time when our reserves are depleted, our strength is gone, and there is nothing left to give. It becomes a downward spiral that can be hard to get out of. But Jeremiah reminds us that when you put your trust in God, there is an abundance of resources that enable us to thrive, even in the midst of the most challenging times. Those who are centred in the Lord, who draw their strength from the Lord and trust in him, are able to remain strong and vibrant, to find the strength to endure and persevere, even in the face of adversity. But it doesn't stop there. The tree is able to bear fruit even in drought. When we draw from the endless supply of God's grace, we are able to make a positive impact on the world around us, providing nourishment and sustenance to others. As the Psalmist reminds us, 'My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. -Psalm 73:26.

Where do you need to trust and put your confidence in the Lord today?

PRAYER:

God, in all I face today, be the strength of my heart. Amen.