But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and has made the LORD his hope and confidence. He is like a tree planted along a riverbank, with its roots reaching deep into the water—a tree not bothered by the heat nor worried by long months of drought. Its leaves stay green, and it goes right on producing all its luscious fruit. Jeremiah 17:7–8 (TLB)
I love looking at the big, tall trees on the riverbank by the Mississippi River. I also appreciate their shade while I stroll on the bank, gazing at the muddy waters in the river. The roots of those trees go deep down in the river, which lets me know they have been there a long time. In my lifetime, there have been several floods that sent the river waters over the riverbank. The water completely covered the park area and the parking lot. Yet, after the water returned to the river, the trees on the riverbank were still standing tall. They have managed to thrive in other harsh conditions as well. Even in extreme heat, their leaves remain green.
In Psalm 1:1–3, David compared the person who delights in the Lord and meditates daily on His Word to a tree planted by the riverbank. The last line of the Scripture states that this person will be successful. I desire to be like a tree planted by the riverbank with my roots in the water, confident I will always be watered and nourished. As we learn to trust in the Lord, our hope and faith in Jesus will continuously fill us with confidence, helping us stand strong even when the conditions around us are hot and dry. If we stay rooted and grounded in His Word, we will be as trees planted by the riverbank.
FAITH STEP: Look at pictures of the roots of trees on a riverbank. Notice how deep they are and picture yourself as a tree with your faith rooted and grounded in Christ.
