Our scripture this morning is Jeremiah 17:7-8.
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.
Jeremiah is sometimes called the “Weeping Prophet” because He was tasked to bring Israel warnings from God about their disobedience. However, this passage brings a message of hope, that those who make God the center of their lives will be equipped and prepared for the things we face here.
God is the one who made everything we experience, down to our own physical bodies and our very existence. With His help we are able to continue what we have been called to do. Trying to do it alone is almost always a recipe for failure. God has gifted us with many skills and talents but they are fueled (as are we) by His love.
When we make “the Lord our hope and confidence” we are part of a larger system, connected with Him and our brothers and sisters. This is the joy of how we are made, intended to be in relationship. These are the roots Jeremiah teaches us, trusting that God has a plan for each of us individually and all of us as His children.
Gracious God, You have given us wonderful things to be used for the benefit of Your people. Help us to care for Your creation, but especially one another. Amen.
