Listen

Happy are those who trust in the Lord, who rely on the Lord.

They will be like trees planted by the streams, whose roots reach down to the water.

They won’t fear drought when it comes; their leaves will remain green.

They won’t be stressed in the time of drought or fail to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Think

Our scripture today tells us we will be happy when we’re deeply rooted in rich soil, and our roots reach down to plenty of water by a stream. Our leaves will be green! We’ll produce lots of fruit! Mmmm yummy soil and stream water…. wait a minute — I’m not a tree! I’m a human! Dirt and stream water? Gross!

Like water for a tree, Jeremiah assures us that trusting God is the source of happiness for us humans. Trusting God is easier said than done. It’s easier to write “Trust in the Lord” on a t-shirt, keychain, or coffee mug than it is to actually trust in the Lord. What does trusting God look like?

Trusting God means traveling on God’s path, choosing God’s way of peace, truth, equality, and wholeness. It means daily committing ourselves to God’s path instead of the path of politicians, social media pressure, fighting and finger-pointing, consumerism, or condemnation of others. God’s path is not easy, but it is fruitful. Mmmm fruit.

Erin Spengeman Hutchison

Pray

God, help me to trust you and choose your way each day, knowing that your way of love is the only source of life.

Amen.

Go

As you go today, choose the loving path of God, remembering that God will guide you.