Blessed Are . . .

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 17:7-8

THESE VERSES GIVE a picture of people at rest in Christ. These are Christians who walk closely with God, seek him daily, and put him first on the list of priorities. What exactly does God do for such people?

When things get tough, they don’t wilt. Like trees whose roots go deep, the heat of life doesn’t dry them up. They have resources that go far below the surface, and there they find calm and peace.

They don’t worry about bad times. Drought can kill crops and trees. But people rooted in Jesus will not fear bad times in this world—financially, physically, or emotionally. They will always know that God is with them, no matter what has gone wrong in the world around them.

They keep producing fruit, in good times and in bad. This kind of Christian is resilient, flexible, and always ready for action. He or she doesn’t give up on bad people and is not riled by the supposedly “good” people.

God wants your life to be like this. He promises that if you walk with him, he will make you strong, resilient, and persevering.