Did It Rain at Your House?
It rained at my house on Sunday night, the first real rain in several weeks. Prior to last night’s rain, everything was very dried up. This mini-drought made me think of tumbleweeds. Tumbleweeds are rolling thistles that can grow up to six feet tall. When they dry out and are released from their roots, they “tumble” with the wind to scatter seeds.
Jeremiah 17:5 describes a person “whose heart turns away from the Lord.” The person Jeremiah is describing sounds like a tumbleweed. Jeremiah says those who draw their strength from “mere flesh” will be like “a bush in the wastelands” and unable to “see prosperity when it comes.” (vv. 5-6) The opposite of this are those who put their trust in God instead of people. Trees that have strong, deep roots draw moisture from deep in the earth. Persons who put their faith and trust in God can remain full of life, even in the midst of drought-like circumstances.
I mentioned tumbleweeds because while they have roots, tumbleweeds don’t stay connected to the moisture in the earth and therefore dry out and die relatively quickly. When they die, they become disconnected and are then easily blown around, wherever the wind blows them. In contrast, trees remain connected to their roots. The drier the weather, the deeper the roots grow into the earth to find moisture. The roots of trees allow them to flourish and thrive and stay anchored to what will sustain them in times of hardship.
We need to hold fast to God. We need to sink our roots deep into the Bible where we can find encouragement and wisdom. We need to daily seek God through prayer. Through prayer and time in God’s Word, we can experience the life-giving, life-sustaining nourishment that God alone can supply.
Prayer – Oh, God, You are my sustainer. You provide me with the strength to navigate my struggles and hardships. Amen.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 – “The one who trusts in the Lord will be like a tree planted by the water.”
By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Images: Vitolda Klein, Luismi Sanchez & Johann Siemens, courtesy of Unsplash
