It’s one of my favorite memes of the season. As one that needs to color my hair every 4-6 weeks – this hits close to home. I’m currently trying to stretch my last home color job before I break into my 1 box stash in my bathroom closet. The struggle is real.
As we move into another week of our new normal I’m feeling like more then my hair roots are starting to show. Times of adversity have the ability to reveal both the good and the bad of our hearts and motives. They provide opportunity to gain perspective on either the strength or the weakness of the things, people, ideas that have attracted our trust. Today I’ll refer to these as our roots.
It was an afternoon excursion to our local golf course last week that triggered the memory of this verse from Jeremiah – a prophet quite familiar with adversity. His job was to warn the nation of Judah of its coming destruction. Can you imagine God calling you to that position? “Yes – Jeremiah – every day your task will be to report bad news to a people that won’t want to hear it. You will get push back and not much encouragement. ” Despite early objections to this call on his life, Jeremiah obeyed and penned the words that offer me much encouragement and direction today.
In chapter 17- Jeremiah gives us clarity on how to handle the adversity of our day. He speaks from a place of authority as his life was one that did not get much affirmation from his circumstances – his hope and strength were in God alone.
Jeremiah 17: 7-8
But Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
As I gazed upon the tree on the 5th fairway on the golf course I marveled that this mighty tree with so many roots was thriving. It could tell a story or two. It has seen heat, storms, adversity. How do I know? Its roots are exposed. No hiding this ones foundation. It has lost the security of dirt, grass and rocks and all that is left…
are the streams of living water flowing on either side.
Did you catch that….
all that is left…
streams of living water.
As my own life roots, places I’ve planted my trust and security are revealed….
MY schedule.
MY plans.
My bank account.
My Family.
My toilet paper stash….
as they are revealed – its becoming crystal clear.
The one thing, the one most important only thing that is keeping my heart steady, my emotions in check, my resolve strong, my vision clear , my hope united….
Its my roots connected to the word of my Savior. The words that flow over me like streams of living water. Word that refresh, renew, revitalize.
Its the beginning of another week…take a good long drink of living water by spending significant time in his word.
Your roots are thirsty…. and they are eagerly waiting to be satisfied.
Loving you where you are. Pointing you forward to where He is.
justbeth:)
justbeth:) 