Stand Firm
Jeremiah 17:7-8 Those who trust in the LORD will be blessed. They know that the LORD will do what he says. They will be strong like trees planted near a stream that send out roots to the water. They have nothing to fear when the days get hot. Their leaves are always green. They never worry, even in a year that has no rain. They always produce fruit.
It feels like the hot days are getting hotter and the cold days are getting colder. Whether or not you believe that climate change is real, there’s one thing for certain – the insurance companies sure do, as premiums skyrocket because of increased damage from natural disasters.
And for many, with all that’s going on in the world and in their lives, the storms of life seem to be getting more frequent and more intense too. How do you withstand them?
There’s an oak tree on Johns Island near Charleston, South Carolina that’s referred to as ‘The Angel Oak’. It’s estimated to be between 400 and 500 years old, although some believe it may be as old as 1,500 years. It stands around 65 feet tall, with a canopy that provides, wait for it … 17,000 square feet of shade. It’s longest limb measures around 89 feet.
This so-called Angel Oak with its deep roots and flexible limbs has withstood many hurricanes, floods and natural disasters down through the centuries, including in 1989, Hurricane Hugo, a powerful Category 4 storm which caused widespread devastation.
The tree’s survival, while many others have come crashing down, has made it a symbol of resilience and endurance.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 Those who trust in the LORD will be blessed. They know that the LORD will do what he says. They will be strong like trees planted near a stream that send out roots to the water. They have nothing to fear when the days get hot. Their leaves are always green. They never worry, even in a year that has no rain. They always produce fruit.
Deep roots, flexible limbs – that’s what happens when you trust in the Lord.
And that’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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