Jeremiah 17:8
"They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit."
Many of us are experiencing the change of seasons from spring to summer, and with this change comes the familiar change from warm to hot. Many times we expect the months ahead to be hot under the summer sun but yet we find ourselves complaining for want of cooler days. We are a greatly privileged people with just about any possible convenience available at the touch of your hand and yet we so often find ourselves perplexed at such menial things.
Today we can escape the heat with air conditioned homes, offices and cars. Even if we find ourselves sweating on the shaded porch under a spinning ceiling fan, there is ice cream and iced tea only a few short feet away. God has blessed us in this day and time but can we honestly say that we constantly acknowledge all of His grace in our lives? How much wind, rain, snow or sun does it take to shake our faith?
Those that lived at the time of Jeremiah did not have such luxuries and yet their writings are full of beauty and love for God. Their testimonies recorded in time are of unimaginable tests and trials. I sometimes wonder how each of us would react if we were placed in the Middle-East in Biblical times. Could we even get passed the weather and have faith enough to endure what only came natural to those believers that went before us.
When the wind blows or the heat rises in our lives, are we ready to weather the storm? Would our faith be as roots on a riverbank, reaching out to receive life and strength, or would we bounce in the wind like the tumbleweed? How wonderful it would be to grow fruit in the midst of drought.
God is our Father, our Creator and Jesus is our fountain of strength. Time and time again, throughout the Old and New Testaments, the writers are urging us to ever be faithful and grounded in truth.
Stretch your roots for the stream this summer and enjoy the freshness of the living water.
Read more articles by Patrick Whalen or search for articles on the same topic or others.
Don't you just love the thought of a large shady fruit tree next to a stream of water on a hot summery day. Lord, let me be like that to those suffering in the heat of an oppressed world! Good job, Patrick!
Thanks Patrick, for this insight. If we foused on our blessings nearly as much as we do our complaints, we might then truly overcome. Great word. ~Mary
