The vegetables, flowers and herbs we have just planted require regular evening watering in this summer heat. If we just left it up to the rain they would be dead by now. Their root systems are small and tender, yet to be established, vulnerable.
In Jeremiah 17: 7-8 we read;
"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit."
Imagine a tree being anxious,and fearing for its continued existence in a time of drought. Of course the prophet wants us to draw a comparison of the life of a tree with an obedient spiritual life trusting in God. His text predates the Christian era, but it is still applicable to us.
The spiritual disciplines of prayer, scripture reading, worship, fellowship and serving others enable us to put down deep roots that reach towards the life giving water of the Spirit. In faith, we believe this will enable us to stand when the times of difficulty come, even if they seem like a prolonged drought of the soul. If our roots are shallow and tender, our faith will struggle in such times, fruit will wither on the branch. Are you anxious and full of fear about life's challenges? Focus on sending those roots down deep, "like a tree planted by water." Shalom
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