Life in every season
When my husband and I decided to move houses, we searched for homes in the older neighborhoods of our city because we desired trees. In our part of the country, mature trees are a luxury.
We settled on a home with a huge pecan tree in the backyard, a giant oak tree in the front yard, and a large bush planted in the corner of the flowerbed. The trees were the selling point of the house, and we debated on whether or not to keep the bush as it wasn’t eye catching, especially compared to the tress.
Fall arrived and the leaves on the trees began changing colors and falling, but I noticed the bush was consistently green. When winter arrived and the tree branches were bare the bush was quite the opposite, boasting tiny red berries amongst the green leaves that gave color to our otherwise dead and dormant yard.
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.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land.
“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 17:5-8
The bush is consistent in every season. It always has green leaves. In the middle of the hot, dry summer, the bush is still green. In the freezing temperatures of the winter, the bush is still green. And when everything around it is encased in death, the bush is bursting with new life.
How is the season going for you, my friend? Are you worried, bothered, and losing hope, causing your leaves to turn, wither, and fall?
On your own, it’s a lost cause. You are encased in death. You have no say about the matter because it’s your only option. No amount of self-will, power, or effort can put life into your dry bones.
But God can.
The Creator and Provider of all things. He can revive you. Plant deep within you a great hope and confidence so that, no matter what the season has in store, you will not only be filled with life, but fruitful living.
Others will notice. As they walk through this dreary world of death, they will notice that you are alive. And as you receive blessings from trusting in the Lord, the fruit you bear will be a beautiful testimony to the greatness of our Sustainer, God!
