by Chad Allen, Lead Pastor
You don’t need the news or a post to tell you that these are challenging times. And in challenging times who we trust in and what we trust in becomes very evident. These words from today’s Bible reading plan are very timely.
Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. 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.”
Jeremiah 17:5-8
In this season, as grateful as we are for the tireless efforts of essential workers and those in positions trying to make positive changes, we need to always watch ourselves that we don’t place our dependency on humanity, becoming a person who “trusts in man and makes flesh his strength.” We make a terrible god – we are extremely flawed saviors. But God is faithful! God is present and He provides what our bodies and minds and hearts need during times of joy and abundance and during times of hardship and anemic resources.
May you renew your trust in the Lord today. May your soul flourish even while experiencing personal or national drought. Would you pause even now and pray these verses to the Lord? Thank him for His faithfulness in the good times and bad. Confess where you have been trusting in the power of people and human solutions rather than the Lord and His character and the promises of His Word. Ask the Lord to help you fiercely trust Him no matter what challenges you face.
