The prophet Jeremiah cautioned the people of Judah, as well as us today, that times of “scorching heat” will come into each of our lives. Intermingled among the many blessings we experience will be hot, dry seasons when things just seem to be going wrong at the same time, all around us. This is just a fact of life, a consequence of living in a fallen world. One day, the world will be made right at the return of Jesus Christ, but for now, we must prevail through a series of troubles, trials, and conflicts that will inevitably come our way.
Human DNA seems to be stimulated by conflict. We are like boxers when they hear the bell, ready to come up fighting at any challenge or opposition. Without God in our life, we will likely react poorly and retaliate against any and all offenses, real or imagined. As a result, we often end up making our problems much worse than they need be. Underlying our behavior is fear – a fear of losing something of value in our life or an affront to our pride. We believe that whatever is coming against us must be overcome and defeated, usually through our own resources. It becomes us, alone, against the threats of the world.
Jeremiah tells us that if this is the way we choose to live, we will miss out on many good things in our lives. Peace, serenity, and joy will be fleeting, and quickly overcome by the obsession and anxiety of the latest challenge. The prophet tells us that there is a better way to live – the life of faith.
7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)
If we are able to trust God to protect us in times of trouble rather than to excessively worry or seek to retaliate, we allow the miracle of reconciliation to happen. We can actually experience a negative event without reacting in anger – we see the trial and feel the heat, but we learn to trust in the Lord to deal with it rather than seek to take matters into our own hands, usually with undesirable consequences.
In times of trouble, life can appear hopeless. One discouraging thing after another may occur, and soon all we can imagine are more bad things happening. The flames of fear are fanned in our hearts until a sense of panic can set in.
But God wants us to stay calm in these times and to keep faith in our hearts, even when our eyes do not see a way out. He wants us to know that He is there, nourishing the strength of our “roots” beneath the soil, and building us up for a brighter and better future ahead, following Him.
During one difficult time in my own work career, I wrote out the above Bible passage and put it on my wall where I could see it throughout the day. It helped me to get through a challenging season, emerging stronger, and eventually gaining a favorable light in my company despite the difficulties of a failed project.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed the concept of trusting God to get us through all of our day-to-day challenges. By putting our faith in Him, we will not only survive, but thrive.
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)
When the heat comes, whatever the situation, God wants us to remember to turn our trials and troubles over to His tender care. He will never let us down and will always hold us up in His loving hands, providing for all of our needs.
Is this easy to do? No, it is not. But any progress we make in this direction will bring great blessing and a sense of serenity. May God help us to grow along these lines, learning to trust Him more with our daily challenges, and to help settle our differences with others in a peaceful manner, without resorting to conflict when the heat comes.
Reflection
What situations in my life are robbing my peace today?
Lord, thank You that I can lean upon You whenever any challenge or problem comes my way. Teach me and empower me in the Holy Spirit to trust in You rather than to get angry or plan retaliation for an offense. Remind me that You are always there, protecting and nourishing me, even in times of great difficulty. Prepare me for greater, more fruitful days ahead, even as we endure a difficult season together. Grant me peace and serenity as I rest in You, secure in the eye of the storm. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Have a blessed and peaceful day in the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 