Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Jeremiah 17:5-8
“This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. “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.””
Where we place our trust matters. Who we trust impacts our lives of faith and our focus in life, but it seems to also affect our perspective and preparedness. When we trust only in ourselves, the strength of our hands, in our human understanding, we are tossed around like a tumble weed and don’t see clearly the grace and blessing that God brings. When we set our trust on Christ, we are well rooted and able to weather whatever circumstances come our way. Today, when you begin to fret about the future or fume about a task, take a moment and ask God to teach you to trust in him. I will not promise that the issue will resolve itself instantly; yet this simple prayer gives us an opportunity to practice our trust in God. God is our confidence and strength. As we rest in him, he will give us wisdom, courage, grace and peace.