When Life Feels Uprooted - Your Nightly Prayer - October 27th
When Life Feels Uprooted
Your Nightly Prayer
By Kyle Norman
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“They will be like a tree planted by water…its leaves are always green.” - Jeremiah 17:8
SOMETHING TO PONDER
“Blessed”, is a word that we toss around often, especially in church. But have we ever really thought about what that means? For example, there is man at my church who often mentions how blessed he feels. He exudes gratitude and thankfulness. And why shouldn’t he? His many business ventures have created sizable wealth for him. Although in his 60’s he is incredibly fit. On the surface, his life is filled with an abundance of goodness.
But are God’s blessings found in financial success, in youthful vigor, and in pleasant pastimes? If so, does this mean that those who are less successful, less healthy, or in a time of transition are less blessed?
What about you? If you placed yourself on a scale of problem-free living, how blessed would you rank your life?
Believing that the blessing of God removes us from the hurdles of life, then we will only find ourselves discouraged and frustrated. What is more, such a faith is entirely unrealistic, divorced from the everyday occurrences of our lives. Into this dynamic, Jeremiah offers a helpful word. Tucked into the verses of Jeremiah 17 is a powerful promise of those who are blessed. The one trusts in the Lord, who based their confidence in the activity of the Almighty “are like a tree planted by water…whose leaves are always green.” Jeremiah goes on to describe how the blessed one does not fear when heat comes, nor worry in a year of drought.
There are two things to notice here. Firstly, Jeremiah is clear, heat does come, and drought is experienced. Jeremiah never puts forward some utopian ideal of life. The promises of God are not so magical that they are removed from everyday life. Standing in the desert sand, this blessed tree still feels the onslaught of the weather. Heat and drought befall the faithful just like everyone else. This means that God’s blessings are not seen in the absence of challenging experiences or times of transition but in the midst of them.
This is because God's blessings are not about the exterior stuff of life but the internal. In Jeremiah 17, the one who trusts God is blessed because they “send out their roots by the stream.” This means that there is a continuous relationship, an ongoing drawing from God’s reservoir of love and grace. Blessings come from being rooted in God’s presence and activity in our lives. It is this alone that makes the difference.
Jeremiah contrasts the life of the faithful, imagined as a stalwart tree, with the life of the person who does not trust in God. They are seen as a bush in the wasteland. They exist apart from any water, any source of livelihood or refreshment. In the end, the bush is simply blown around by the gusts of the world.
If you are going through a time of hardship or transition, where everything around you seems unmoored, may you remain rooted in Christ. It is this rootedness that keeps us secure. As Christian people, we are to hold tightly to the presence of Christ, daring to believe that He will provide all that we need to navigate our lives of faith. In the end, our blessing is not about what we produce by our efforts, but about being open to the Holy Spirit’s work. It is Christ, working in us, that can produce blessings beyond all we ask or imagine. And it is Jesus alone who keeps us steadfast despite whatever the world may throw at us. So, like a tree planted by streams of water, may Jesus continue to be the source of your livelihood, your strength, and your salvation.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
Your word invites me to come to you and never be thirsty. You are the source of all I need in my life. It is only as I remain connected to you, as a tree by streams of water, that I can receive the inward vibrancy I need for my faith. Lord, help me to be strong in the face of trials and temptations. When life around me seems frenetic and uneasy, help me to stand upon your sure promises. When I feel tempted to follow this world, keep me rooted in your presence.
I pray all these things in the precious name of Jesus.
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. Psalm 1 also takes up the image of the faithful being trees planted by living water. Take some time to pray through Psalm 1. What truths does God wish to apply to your life?
2 . Water is often used as an image of spiritual vitality. This is why it is significant that Jesus promises that “whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38) What does it mean for you to draw your strength from this living water?
3 . Jeremiah 17 states that the blessed person is one who has “confidence in the Lord.” What does it mean for you to be confident in the promises of God in all areas of life?
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Anna Efetova
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