A Tree Planted by the Water

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 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 in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit,” Jeremiah 17:7-8, KJV

The economy is such a hot topic now. The word recession has been used to describe the state of our nation for the past year. It is defined as a widespread decline in the GDP (gross domestic product) and employment and trade lasting from six months to a year. There have been reports after reports of rising unemployment rates and how it affects people of our nation. This is true that this is a challenging era in our history, but it is not the end of the world.

Just this year alone many reports have been made of suicide incidents related to this issue. Where is the faith in God that was spoken of in the “good” times? He is the same God now that He was then. He is still able to do exceedingly above all that we could ever think or ask. He is still on the throne. He is still our provider. How many of us believe this?

Faith in God is not something we can pull off of the shelf at a convenience store. It is not something that we already know is going to happen and then we believe, it is “…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” Hebrews 11:1, KJV. Despite the loss of jobs, God is our provider. I have said for many years now that God is my source. It is not a job, a paycheck from the government, or a particular person, it is the Almighty God. All of these things are resources, but do understand that God is the source.

When some may experience lack, God’s people prosper. When I say this, I speak from experience. Whatever the bank account says it can’t handle, God says I can. When the unexpected bill comes and the monthly budget does not allow for it, God says I do. When faced with situations that tell you to just give up, God says not on Me.

Putting trust in anything other than God just sets a person up for failure. Neither homes nor bank accounts can save a soul, only our faith and trust in Christ can save us. The chaos going on in the world is rooted in greed, not God. Even as these things occur, we must trust in God not our intellect to interpret or reason. He is our guide through this journey of life. But if trust is in man and things of this world, the battle has already been lost.

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 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,” Jeremiah 17:5-6, KJV.

Additional References: Luke 12: 25-32, Psalm 1:3, Ephesians 3:20