Trust is the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone. In Isaiah 2:22 it says, ” Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath.”
Jeremiah 17: 5 This is what the Lord says,” Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans , who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no HOPE for the future…. BUT 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! The Father says we will be known by our fruit. Our fruit tells who we are and who we belong to. ( Matt. 7:20) The Father also says He cuts off the branches that don’t bear fruit and even prunes the branches that do bear fruit. ( John 15: 2)
We long to be that tree planted by water whose roots grow down deep. We want to be that fruit tree that bears more fruit each year. That is literally bent over with the weight of produce hanging from it’s branches! Ah, but the pruning process hurts. The tearing away of the wood from the tree is not painless. Still we have the best gardener. He tends his plants so gently. Giving extra food and water when needed. When droughts come that would cause us to shrivel up he rains down upon our hearts. When storms come and it feels like our very roots are being pulled up. He helps us hold firm. He patiently pulls up the weeds that would choke out his truth and gives us space for more growth. He is tender and loving and kind. He is trustworthy. As long as we live on this earth there will be fruit to be produced and branches to be pruned. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ( Matt 7:19)
Producing fruit is why we are here! He is the vine. We are the branches! If we remain in Him and He in us we will produce much fruit! For His Glory!
The kids and I decided a long time ago that we would not put our trust in getting our way but rather we would put our trust in a gracious Father who can do all things and has good plans for us! We serve a God that is bigger than we are! His ways are not our ways and His wisdom is beyond compare. No experience on this earth is wasted. He loves us too much to not use everything for our good! Everything! While we trust that He is for us, we also trust that He is being glorified! We trust that fruit is being produced in His kingdom.
Romans 14: 7 states, “We don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. If we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die we belong to the Lord.”
This week has been HARD. There is no other word for it, change is hard. We know that as believers that death has no victory and no sting! Praise be to God! We exchange an earthly dwelling that has been temporarily ours for a Heavenly dwelling forever. The process of the exchange , the tearing away is what is painful ,AND Yet…Christ is GOOD!
So we renew our minds daily with the Book of Truth. We exchange our earthly mindset for a heavenly one. We give thanks and rejoice!
“I pray that God, the source of HOPE will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust Him. Then you will overflow with confident HOPE through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
