Welcome back fellas, let’s do another in our top ten list of my favourite bible verses. Don’t forget, we would love to hear from you and know what you think.
09. Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT
There are (as ever) verses before this that set the scene, so it is important for us not to lose the context here and just pull a single verse out and make it fit our lives. The main thrust though, is that when we try and put our confidence, trust and hope in the flesh, be it other people or our own ability, strength and resources we will fail. If your heart turns from a child-like reliance on God you will be like a tree in the desert, cursed and dry, finding no pleasure, purpose or hope in life.
With that in mind, it makes the next verses really powerful. Not cursed but blessed are those who trust in the Lord, making Him their confidence and hope! Wow.
The verses go on to paint a picture of what that sort of man would look like, a tree planted with deep roots that are fed, nourished and maintained. When the problems come along, (and I think we would all agree that life isn’t linear!), life’s course will twist and turn a lot at times, but the storms won’t destroy us.
I don’t know about you but it has been these verses and promises, like this that have held me in so many storms that makes me unable to deny the Bibles relevance and authority over my life.
This verse talks not just about ‘getting through’ the storms that come, but almost getting through the storm with an indignation, and victorious shout. Now that is more than just your faith being an anchor and crutch during difficult times. This is about a rooted hope and confidence that cannot be shaken.
This is powerful to write about but it is nothing compared to the person or people you meet who still have this hope and confidence, even after being trashed by storms in life. Amazing!
Image Credit: Aaron Burden
