Rooted: Deeper than we think

Jeremiah 17: 7-8 - “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Break down line one first, first we see that in a man who trust and whose trust is the Lord! What is the difference? can you explain when these aspects work together?

Jeremiah is someone who went through many many struggles, yet people find so many encouraging verses from him in these passages. Is it because we can relate to him, the struggles of life? hardships? trials and tribulations?

The source of tree is the single most important factor in the growth of a tree. notice it wasn’t referred to a bush, nor a plant, but a tree that is green. When we see a tree standing tall, beautiful green leaves, what do we see? we see healthy and strong right?

What we are fed is more important than what we put out

We all have heard of how trees help with oxygen purification that is essential for our livelihood. But in order for a tree to do its purpose it has to be strong enough, right? A tree is much like we are, if we are not fed or fed incorrectly we will not be able to function or perform in all the areas we need to.

Jeremiah makes us in reference that when we feed our spirits with trusting in the Lord and He would be our trust, it flourishes like a tree planted on healthy grounds with a surplus water supply that is continuously fed.

But even when the trials come such as drought, heat, cold, or any situation not only are we that green healthy tree, we are also bearing fruit in the midst of that situation.

Trials will still come, but our trust gets stronger

In James 1 it talks about counting it all joy when trials come your way, that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

sometimes it doesn’t all feel good, but when we make it through we can look back and remind ourselves that we have been there and done that already.

its like our own way of speaking words of affirmation over ourselves, because we remind ourselves by word, by thought, and in our spirit.

Marks that last a lifetime

ever notice on a tree, it doesn’t cover up anything. branches growing there and here and everywhere. some produce some dont. if winds come and blow a limb off, it doesn’t cover up with a bandaid, or some kind of cover up. what it does....It grows back over it.

Even if the branch was essential, it will grow it back. Do we have that same attitude in life?

If our ministry didn’t start off the way we wanted it too, and something came and stumbled it…do we just let it fall off? or do we grow it back?

The leaves that are on it, they look pretty now but if the cold comes and the leaves aren’t strong enough to stay, does the tree just stay bare? No! It grows them back the following season!