Like Trees Planted by Water
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
It is good for my soul to be among trees.
One of my favorite things about living here is that I can very quickly be on a trail surrounded by trees that began to grow before Texas was a state. Being in the presence of these ancient trees, which have seen so many decades, reminds me that my life fits in an older and deeper story.
The present moment can be so loud and so large. The challenges we face and the choices we make fill our field of vision, and they become all we can see. God’s people are invited to have their perspective converted. There is amazing power and freedom in allowing God to put the present in its place.
God’s people are called to remember the past and have confidence in God who calls us into the future. I find that trees help. Relationships with folks who are decades more seasoned in this life produces similar fruit. Spiritual, mental and emotional fortitude grow when we listen to the witness of people who have come before us that have faced great challenges. We draw strength when we read the ancient witness of scripture that tells of God’s faithfulness when enemies threatened and exile loomed. Likewise, we gain confidence when we hear testimony of those among us that worshiped a faithful God during a World War and in the social upheaval of the decades that followed.
We can do more than learn from trees, we can actually be like them. The words of the prophet Jeremiah tell us that those who trust the Lord are like trees planted by water. The weather changes but we need not fear. Seasons come and go but we do not have to live in worry. We are rooted and grounded in the soil of God’s grace and love.
So get out and walk among the trees or sit down with an older friend. Look and listen as God puts the present moment into a larger story of hope and salvation.
Blessings,
Pastor Ben