Where Is My Trust?
Trust. Defined as a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. When you trust, you’re placing a confidence in that person or thing to take care of you and hold you up. When you tell someone a secret, you’re trusting they won’t tell anyone else. When you get in your car, you’re trusting it and relying on it to get you from point A to point B. When you get married, you’re trusting that person to have a piece of your heart forever and care for you. But people spill secrets, cars break down, and relationships have their ups and downs. Every human or earthly thing you put your trust in will in some way, shape or form, let you down. But there is One that will never let you down. God. God is worthy of all your trust. He is a firm foundation that leads you to higher places and never leaves you once you decide to follow him.
Jeremiah 17:5-10 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 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.’ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ‘I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.’”
This scripture pretty much tells us how it is! The prophet Jeremiah calls us cursed if we trust in man. Some even call it “foolish.” The truth is, there is no fruit or growth that comes from finding strength in our flesh and solely relying on yourself or another person. But we find hope in verses 7 and 8. We are reminded that faith in the Lord produces the fruit of righteousness. The Message Translation puts it this way, “But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers - Never a worry through the hottest summers, never dropping a leaf, serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season.” Never a worry? Always bearing new fruit? Sign me up! With trusting completely in the Lord, we will inherit the quality of being right in his eyes. Even in trials and the highs and lows of life, we can still find freedom and the fullness of life and joy!
“It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.” Like a tree planted by a stream that doesn’t have to worry about getting water, when we live our lives planted in our faith, we don’t have to fear what is to come. No matter where we are at and what comes our way, we have a source that feeds us life and we get to bear fruit. And because of the constant comfort from the Lord, we get to then go share that faith with those around us. I know that trusting in the Lord has completely changed my life and I live to share that with others so that they may get to experience it too.
So, where is your trust? Are you one foot in with Jesus and one foot in with flesh? Or are you all in, putting all your hope and trust in the One who is worthy? Are you like a bush in the wastelands, or like a tree planted by the water? Take some time to reflect on this today and think about where your trust is. Let’s experience him together, resting in the fact that we can trust in a Father who will lead us beside still waters (Psalm 23:2) and gives us the fullness of life (John 10:10).
Challenges:
Think about what brings about the “heat” in your life. Write it down and then prayerfully hand it over to the Lord. With him, no “heat” that ever comes your way will separate you from his love. Do not fear! Your leaves can always be green, too.
Dive in fully. Choose to trust the Lord and then trust him with all you have! Don’t hold back, he wants to take care of you.
Spread the Word. The gospel, being able to put our trust in the One who is greater and having access to eternity, is the best gift we could ever receive so let’s share it with everyone around us! Don’t keep it to yourself, invite others to know him too!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation! Thank you that we have the ability to put our full trust in you. Thank you that we can choose to no longer fear what is to come because we have confidence in who you say you are. You are good, you are love, you are the Prince of Peace, and you are our defender. We give all of ourselves to you. May we choose to worship you even in the depths of darkness, for you are light and can overcome it all. We love you and give you all the honor and praise. In Jesus’ name! Amen!