Unmovable, Unshakable

Jeremiah 17:7-8 - “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the water, which spreads out its roots by the river...”

We sang a new song Sunday morning. The words to the song Tree by Jason Rizzo go like this:

I want to be unmovable and unshakable

So let my roots go down deep

Unmovable and unshakable in You

I, I want to be like a tree

Planted by the streams of living water

This’ll be my song, God; this’ll be my prayer

Till the end, till the end

As the song lilted through my head this morning and as I peered out the window into the dark I could see a light shining up on a tree in our yard. It may not be near a stream but it is planted firmly...unmovable and unshakable. It's  roots go down deep. It has withheld the storms of the seasons.

Isn't it just like God to create nature and then to use it to show us not only Himself in it's beauty, grandeur, magnificence and unlimitlessness, but by example, like a tree whose roots are planted by a stream?

Our water, if we so choose, is Jesus Christ, our fount of Living Water, the only water, as the Samaritan woman was told, that would cause her to thirst no more. She became like the tree that day she met Jesus. And so are all who look upon Jesus as their strength for all things, who do not search for the things of the world that rust and moth can destroy.

There are troubles in this world. There always will be, as Pastor Rory Grooters told us on Sunday morning during our series on Getting Through the Tough Stuff. No one is immune. No amount of wealth or privilege will be able to prevent troubles. And don't I sometimes wonder if they actually bring on more problems. Less CAN truly sometimes be more.

There is only one need in this life and that is Jesus. Less is more. Houses, clothing, stuff we accumulate is all lumped into the category of things that moth and rust can destroy. But blessed is the man whose trust is in the Lord. Blessed is the man whose roots are firmly planted by the streams of living water, who will be nourished by the truth of His Word and strengthened by His power in the times of trouble. 

Be still and know that He is God. He will always be God. He never changes. He can be that God for us if we search for Him, receive Him and follow Him. Our roots can run deep in Him. He is here for us when we seek Him. Seek Him before the troubles begin. We can be unmovable and unshakable, like a well watered tree.

Psalm 46:1-3 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.  Selah