Fruitful, Not Afraid

Recently at a worship night, I was encouraged by a reading from God's word in Jeremiah 17:7-8:  "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. ⁸ For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."  Those who place confidence in God and rely upon Him will be most blessed, for the LORD is faithful and His promises sure.  The God who created the heavens, earth and all that is in them knows those who trust Him, and He rules over all the affairs of mankind.  He is never rocked by financial struggles, political intrigue or health issues.  He is not distracted or forgetful, for He is ever faithful to protect, provide and guide.

Similar to Psalm 1, Jeremiah wrote one who trusts in the LORD is compared to a tree planted by waters that heat and drought cannot trouble.  This well-watered tree does not worry about a current heat wave, nor is it anxious concerning troubling circumstances the future may hold.  Despite intense heat, this tree has all the living water needed for leaves to flourish, branches to continue growing and bear fruit.  In the year of drought when no rain falls, the roots of this tree reach deep and are satisfied by the life-sustaining flow of water.  As far as I am aware no tree is fearful or anxious, but people certainly are.  If we worry and are anxious to lack modern conveniences, how much more concerned would we be to lack physical necessities like water?

The one who trusts in God will not be afraid when the "heat" is on and faces fiery trials, for God's perfect love casts out all fear.  Knowing God (who is our Peace) is with us and will never leave or forsake us, we can be of good cheer--even in tribulation--because Jesus has overcome the world.  When we feel spiritually dry and there is not a cloud to be seen in the sky, the LORD causes those who trust Him to be fruitful by the power of the Holy Spirit.  What God does is miraculous, for He supplies our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  In Bible times to this day, people relied on seasonal rain to grow food.  They were anxious and frustrated when rains they needed did not come.  Rather than having us depend on or rely on seasonal rain, God would have His people grow to rely upon and rejoice in Him.

In the midst of a heat wave people do many things to stay cool, but a drought is something else.  There was no way for people to cause clouds to form and rain to fall.  Apart from praying for rain, there was little to do but watch everything dry up and die.  With God as our life, we do not need to be troubled or alarmed by what we observe, feel or cannot see:  in Him all our needs are met.  We can cast our cares upon Jesus knowing He cares for us, and the fierce heat and long drought teaches us to feed on His faithfulness.  Truly in the Vine we find rest for our souls, and our spiritual fruitfulness depends entirely on Him.  Unlike chaff that dries up and flies away, Psalm 1:3 says of the one who delights in the law of the LORD:  "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."  The hot, dry season can be a most fruitful season for the trusting child of God.