Fruitful in Drought

"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Psalm 1:3

Happy is the man who puts off evil and finds delight in God's Law, meditating in it day and night. David proclaimed such a man will be established by God by rivers of living water, will be fruitful in season, and his life will be marked by vibrant growth.  God is one who plants, feeds, prunes, and tends us with more care than any gardener or groundskeeper.  God desires we would be fruitful, but we are not merely a means to God's end.  We may buy a peach tree because we dream of homemade peach cobbler, but God cares about the tree more than fruit alone.  He has many angelic servants created for that express purpose they fulfill perfectly, but His glory is best revealed through these weak human instruments:  it is like we were thorn-bearing plants with poisonous berries who now have been transformed by God's grace to produce succulent, delicious fruit that enlightens the eyes.

Many Christians experience trying times as they walk with Jesus, and one of the most tricky seasons is when you are not feeling fruitful or useful in a church fellowship.  You might feel nothing like the established, fruitful, and happy tree spoken about in Psalm 1.  One thing all believers can count on is God is in control and knows exactly what difficulties and trials we experience.  It is lovely those spiritual streams of living water do not depend on our physical location or geography, nor on a ministry or particular person - as useful as these things can be.  Our supply of light and life comes through Jesus Himself as we look to Him in faith, regardless of the circumstances of our lives.  We can worship by the Holy Spirit in a dungeon or on a mountaintop, and God is able to make us spiritually prosper in hard times.  The God who causes the rain to fall also brings drought, and it is in the times of drought genuine roots of faith spread and deepen to seek moisture.  A drought does not need to make us bitter but stronger in our resolve to walk in righteousness and grace.  The man who abides in Christ in dry times can produce fruit sweetened by God's love, mercy, and compassion.

Psalm 92:12-15 says, "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. ¹³ Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴ They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, ¹⁵ to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."  The delight in God's law is not a theoretical exercise but evidenced by obedience.  There is unrighteousness and hypocrisy in even good men so called, yet with God there is no unrighteousness.  God is able to use us and make us fruitful when we remain faithful to Him in obedience.  If worship has become stale, if praise has dried up, if our vision has become dim, fix your eyes afresh on our glorious Saviour Jesus Christ and believe His Word!  Only then will you be truly prosperous in whatever you do.