Where are you planted?

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
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 (NIV)

Arise and shine, dear one! God is with you!

“Let’s race our leaves down the stream!”

My two youngest children were delighted to pick bright green leaves from the nearby trees and drop them over the bridge. They eagerly watched their chosen leaf’s progress as it floated down the stream, hoping it would make it past the tree roots and not disappear under the water’s current.

As I read these verses in Jeremiah 17, my mind remembered that day at the local park. The trees grow strong along the stream, and you can distinctly see the root system drawing life from the flowing water. It’s a place that’s peaceful and cool, with the sound of the rippling brook, chirping birds, and wind gently brushing the tapestry of leaves above.

When we live a life of trust and confidence in the Lord, our lives will exhibit that same type of peaceful atmosphere. We will draw strength from the One who provides Living Water, soaking in His Words that bring life. We won’t be bound by fear, regardless of our circumstances, because we are rooted in the Truth. We won’t worry about what tomorrow holds as we know Who holds our future in His hands. Others will see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, grown out of time spent with the Lord and the work He’s doing in us.

Where are you planted, dear one? Are you in a place where your life is producing fruit as you draw from the source of Truth in God’s Word? If you’re not experiencing that peace that can only come from the Lord, take time today to read your Bible and see what the Holy Spirit speaks to you. What is He saying to your heart? Stay planted by the water, find your trust and confidence in Jesus, and you’ll bear fruit that brings Him glory!