Trees By The River

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.

Jeremiah 17:7,8

Anxiety in a Volatile World

The Eurozone crisis. Economic recession. Social problems. A myriad of bad news and a slew of natural disasters. Never before is there more anxiety and less security in the world.

While it is tempting to slip into despondency when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds and unsolvable personal problems, we know that God has in store for us something much better than what the world can offer.

Blessed are Those who Trust in the Lord

We are reminded that the one who trusts in the LORD are blessed. By making God our confidence, we have a safe refuge, one which is perfectly dependable and safe. In making God our hope, we have “his favour the good we hope for and his power the strength we hope in” (Matthew Henry).

Why put your trust in God

Jeremiah 17:7-8 tells us that we can trust God, especially when difficult times come. It tells us what a person who trusts in the Lord can look forward to:

1. We will receive nourishment and benefit from God’s providence.
2. We will not fear the trials that are to come.
3. God will help us to flourish.
4. In spite of the ‘heat’ and ‘drought’ we will continue to be fruitful (be it in holiness, in God’s work, for the benefit of others or ourselves), to the glory of God!

All we need to do is simply trust God – those who trust in God and who do not depend on their own strength will not only have their paths made straight (Proverbs 3:5-6), but they will be able to, by faith, derive strength from God and receive grace from Him.

What does it mean to trust in God?

It means to:

1. Acknowledge that nothing we do can bring us salvation and that we are only saved through God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Not to trust in money, strength, influence and other security blankets of the world, since these are given to us by Him alone (1 Chronicles 29:12; Luke 12:16-21)
3. Not to worry, but to pray and give thanks to God (Philippians 4:6), who gives us everything (Luke 12:22, 23, 30, 31)