“Blessed is the Man”

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV)

In this verse Jeremiah talks of trusting the Lord. You see, in Chapter 17 of Jeremiah, He convicts Judah of its sin. To see this, you only need look at the opening verses especially verse 1 which reads,  “The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of their altars...” Judah was sinning and did so despite God’s faithfulness.

Having trust in God is not easy. Even for those who have walked with Him for some time, A deep and desperate trial can easily shake ones trust in God. Jairus, the synagogue leader lost his daughter in death. He did not think of, or remember, the things God had done for the Israelites. Those around him were speaking of her death as it was finished, over, and to leave Jesus alone. It was Christ who reminded him to trust God saying, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36). In other words, “do not listen to them, trust in me.” She was resurrected by the Lord.

We can have all the faith in the world but when difficulties arise and things get tough, we forget about God. In many ways, in my life, when times were difficult, my answer was always “God Provides,” and He always does. The scripture for this comes directly from Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Every wild creature is provided for by God’s grace. They want for nothing. Even more so, no sparrow will die without God saying it is so. (Matthew 10:29) As Christ said, how much more valuable are you than the sparrow.

Trust comes with devotion; it comes with having faith so strong that you believe Christ is in control no matter what the world may throw at you. This world is in control of the prince of the power of the air, Satan. He is real and he walks this earth. (Job 1:7) He is like a hunger lion waiting to devour the saints of God. (1 Peter 5:8) Amidst our trials, he attempts to lure us away from God. We must remember that God never allows anything to happen to us that we cannot handle. In every case, when we feel like we have nowhere to turn, we do…to God. We must trust in God. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Believer, there is no storm you cannot weather, no trouble so deep that it escapes the sight of God. God uses our tribulations to mold us into the image of Jesus. Trust in Him no matter how distraught, lost, broken, or betrayed, He is walking with you every step of the way. Focus on Him and not that which is most troubling for you.

What do you trust in? Do you know Christ as your Savior? Do you walk with Him, in Him, and He in you? If you do not what do you trust, in yourself, others around you? You are unable to save yourself, those around you who do not know the Lord will only lead you further away. Self-deception and the deception of others had led many down a path of destruction.

I pray you, please turn to Christ. Come to know Jesus as your Savior. Come to know the grace and mercy of God, mercies that are new every day and grace that is unending. It will not stop the trials of life, what it will do is give you a solid rock to cling to in the storm. Seek Christ and trust in no one else.

"I do not think the limpet knows much about the rock... but it knows enough to cling to the rock for dear life." Charles Hadden Spurgeon

Grace and Peace