Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Do you remember the trust game? It's a game where you'd stand there and two people would stand behind you, and you'd put your arms like this, and you would fall back and they would catch you. I saw a video one time of a guy did this. He stood upright, he was getting ready, and he fell forward and the people tried to run and catch him. It was the funniest thing I'd ever seen.
You know, trust is critical. You and I need to work on our trust muscles. Our Verse of the Day addresses the topic of trust.
It comes from Jeremiah chapter 17, verse 7. "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence."
The Weeping Prophet
As we look at this passage, Jeremiah is the weeping prophet. God told him to go preach to people, and He told him they're not going to listen. But he went anyway. Here in this particular passage, we see the contrast between a life of self-trust and a life of faith, and the amazing results that come from it.
Trust in Man Plunges Us into False Security
Number one, trust in man plunges us into false security. Right before our Verse of the Day, it says this in verse 5: "Thus says the LORD, 'Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind.'" And this word for man here is gabor. In Hebrew it means the macho man. "Cursed is the macho man who trusts in man." Now look at what God says about the person who trusts only in mankind, and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. Trusting in man causes us to turn from God, and he will be like a bush in the desert.
You ever seen tumbleweed blow in the desert? That's what the man, the woman who trusts in man is like. Trust in man is shaky. It's a weak foundation. By the way, you and I naturally trust in our own thoughts, our own intellect, our own abilities, our own resources. That's natural. Matter of fact, you and I run from feeling insecure. We run from having to lean on something because we also like control.
Trust in God Produces Stability
Secondly, trust in God produces stability. Trust in man produces instability. But trust in God produces indestructible stability. Our Verse of the Day is right here: "Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence."
Now look at the results: "For he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots." I've seen the huge redwoods in California. I mean, they have these huge bases and then these huge roots. The roots themselves of redwoods are fat enough, wide enough to be a tree itself. But here, this person who trusts in God, they don't have to fear.
The Results of Trust
What are the results of this amazing trust? The verse tells us this in the verse after our Verse of the Day. It says, number one, let's call it exhilaration or joy. "Blessed are those"—happy are those—"whose trust is in the Lord." Through the Spirit is love, joy. It's a tremendous attribute.
Number two, not only exhilaration, but foundation: "For he will be like a tree planted by the water." I just looked at that. It's God dependence.
Thirdly, not only exhilaration and foundation—thirdly is peace. Peace. "And will not fear when drought comes." The person who trusts in God will not fear when the drought comes, and its leaves will be green. Peace is there.
And finally, production: "Nor cease to bear fruit." The Bible says its leaves will be green. The person who trusts in God yields fruit. The person who doesn't trust in God doesn't yield the fruit that they should. Think about it. By the way, Jesus Christ was the perfect example of trust, of peace, of resting in the sovereign, loving hand of God.
Evaluate Your Trust
Evaluate where your functional trust is, and let's do what the writer of Proverbs says. Let's trust in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not—don't worry, don't fret. Don't try to take control. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, know Him and He will direct your paths.
