Rooted by the Stream

Bible Verses, Christian, Devos and Inspiration, Faith, Hope, mel's world, melissa mashburn, Women's Ministry, writing

Rooted by the Stream

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)
7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

8 He 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.”

Photo credit Flickr by Gallery North
I absolutely love the visual that this verse gives us. There is HOPE in it, there is PEACE in it, and there is a CONFIDENCE that God is in control in it.

It strikes me that we are in the midst of crises all around us. From the election, gas prices, the economy, our families, our marriages, our kids…oh man, the list goes on and on, doesn’t it? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that we are in a rough time right now, does it? Everywhere you look our friends, families, neighbors, and communities are being affected.

So, how is it, that in the midst of all the concerns, trials, and economic woes can you sit back and rest in Him?

I love how Jeremiah paints this beautiful word picture for us. It says that you will be BLESSED when you TRUST in the LORD, and when your CONFIDENCE is in Him. Not your spouse, not yourself, not your kids, not the government, and certainly not the economy.

If we could save ourselves, we wouldn’t need a savior. –Max Lucado

I can’t tell you how many times I have tried, unsuccessfully, I might add, to put my faith and hope in myself and my own abilities only to discover I can’t do it all and even if I could I wouldn’t be able to do it well. I need to let go of trying to figure it all out and TRUST in the LORD and give Him (the Creator of the Universe) my CONFIDENCE.

When I do that it says that I will be like a “Tree planted by the water”. What an amazing description…He, Jesus, is the living Water, the One true source of Life and Light, and if I plant myself in Him, my roots deeply connected to Him then when tough economic times come (the heat and the drought) my “leaves will always be green and I will bear fruit”. Does that mean I will be rich and overpouring with money, no, but it does mean that my needs will be met and that He will provide. (Not He “might”, but He WILL).

I don’t have to worry or have it all figured out, I just have to place myself alongside the stream, the Living Water, so that I will be BLESSED and will TRUST that the LORD will provide. There is a CONFIDENCE there that can’t be explained, can’t be figured out, and it can’t be quantified, but it is beautiful, it is a gift, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands. -Elisabeth Elliot

Today, if you are stressed, worried, anxious, or flat out freaking out, I would love to encourage you to plant yourself along the stream, of the True Living Water, and let Him take control of it all. Put your TRUST in Him and be BLESSED.


What do you need to do to make that happen today? Dust off your Bible, crack it open, grab a pen and a journal, and go seek the peace that can only come from Him. Get Rooted!

Resting alongside the Stream,

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3 Comments

  1. How very true! We often look to things and people to solve our problems. But it’s only the Lord who can truly give us certainty. He is sovereign and He is faithful and we can count on Him. I want to be a tree planted by the water. I love the Elisabeth Elliot quote too. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Beautiful as usual! Also a bit “ouchy” for me as I am once again reminded that I need to “get rooted regularly”!!

    🙂 Susan

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