Among the Trees

    Tribulation is difficult.  No Christian who has ever experienced a tremendous season of tribulation would ever make light of the trial, nor would the Christian brush off a brother or sister's time of testing, yet no trial is designed to consume a believer.  We are promised hopeful results if we will steadfastly and humbly follow God's Words and directives. 

    When hope and faith are being tried by fire, we would do well to remember the Lord's specific instructions to His people . . .  

Jeremiah 17:

5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man (Hebrew word geber = means a valiant man or warrior) that trusteth in man (Hebrew word adam = means a human being), and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

7 Blessed is the man (Hebrew word geber = means a valiant man or warrior) that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (Hebrew word da'ag = anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?

10 I the LORD search (haqar = to penetrate; to examine intimately) the heart, I try (bahan = to test -especially metals-; to investigate) the reins (kilya = kidney; figuratively the mind), and even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 

    We are more apt to look to the left or to the right (the arm of flesh) when the trial seems unending and the confusion is mounting.  When a resolution looks bleak and God doesn't seem to be "moving," we may start looking to man (adam) for a faster solution:  Perhaps adam will be kind, maybe adam can maneuver in this way or that way, or adam could possibly bring the remedy needed to this difficult season.  And if we don't think adam can bring change, we can at least rely on adam to feed the worry and doubt surrounding the trial.  Yet - God's Words in the Book of Jeremiah indicate that this kind of "solution" will stunt us.  Our growth is impeded just as the heath's growth is stunted and gnarled when a believer lowers his eyes from seeking God's help to seeking man's (adam's) seeming solutions.  What a pitiful site for a believer (geber = valiant man or warrior) to begin looking to the arm of flesh to fix anything.  If we do that, God reveals the outcome: a curse.  I don't type that or quote the word "curse" as a subtle threat or an intimidating word.  Instead, it is simply, by default, all that a believer could expect as the result.  How could a believer (born-again Christian) ever expect mere man (adam) to solve or deliver him from this life's trials?  Stunted. Gnarled. Gloomy. Naked. Destitute.  

    When a believer chooses to place his hope and trust in the LORD, being blessed is the promise we will reap.  Notice in verse 7 that anxiety is truly alleviated, and fruit is certain.  Verse 7 does not promise the absence of heat or drought, but it does assure us that we will not be scorched by the heat, but will instead be planted near a plentiful supply of water.  Leaves and fruit will abundantly result - all because trust and hope were placed in the Lord, rather than in the gadgets, tricks, and carnal "power or might" that adam (the arm of flesh) can offer.

   Brother or sister in the Lord, perhaps you started running a good race.  Perhaps the Lord has been well pleased with your ministry of the past.  Maybe the Lord has appreciated that you have tried false prophets.  These things are important to the Lord.  Yet - there is something of greater importance that the Lord desires.  It is that we never forget our first love.  Him. Our Lord and Savior.  He implores His people who have dearly loved Him in times past to return to Him.  Return to the first works of childlike devotion, trust, and hope in Jesus.  A simple walk of prayer, Bible study, and unfeigned trust that the Lord can do and will do exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think.  

He promises life beside a river that never runs dry.