When The Heat Comes

                 

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and rests his confidence upon Him.  He shall be like a tree planted by the waterside, that stretches its roots along the stream.  When the heat comes it has nothing to fear" (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

Here is another beautiful metaphor from the created world, illuminating a spiritual principle which is as sure and practical as the natural fact of a tree’s need for water.  My spirit comes to rest nowhere in all the universe but in the Lord.  There and nowhere else I find what slakes my thirst, sustains me, causes fruit to appear, and preserves me from fear.  I must be planted ----that is, permanently settled, fixed, and as peaceful as a tree about its assigned place ----not in any special “work” or geographical location, necessarily, but in the Lord Himself.  Daily I stretch my roots along that fresh, pure stream of His love.  I drink living water when I come to Him.  Then when the heat comes, as it is sure to do, I have nothing to fear.

Plant me, Lord.  Remind me to stretch my roots to drink of the Water of Life.  Refresh me today in Your love, so that in Your coolness I may stand the heat.

The Music of His Promises by Elisabeth Elliot