Living a Life of Trust
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
What does it mean to truly trust someone?
The Hebrew word used for trust is בָּטַח (ba.tach). It can be defined as being bold or having confidence in.[1] The English dictionary would describe trust as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something” or “one in which confidence is placed.”[2]
The Bible speaks about the concept of trust. In fact, we see this theme often in God’s relationship with the nation of Israel.
They had every reason to trust in Yahweh, as their history was filled with God continuously sustaining them and revealing His love to them.
Yet, in the book of Jeremiah, we see a period of Israel’s history that was not the brightest.
They had chosen to put their trust in humanity rather than God. This rebellion resulted in judgement, in which God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.
Where We Place Our Trust
It matters greatly where we choose to place our trust. If we place ourselves on shaky ground, it will be a disaster. However, if we place everything, including our whole selves, onto stable ground, it is an act of wisdom.
Through utilizing contrast, the Lord painted a picture which communicates an important message for us today.
Jeremiah 17:8 reads:
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out 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.”
Firstly, the Lord is pleased when a person puts their trust completely in Him. Like a good father who desires their child to rest in their provision, God desires us to surrender ourselves to His loving character.
Extending from this, we see that a person with a posture of trust is comparable to a tree planted by the water, with their roots extending out to the stream.
We are not the source of our own strength, growth, and nourishment.
God is the true supplier of these things. We see in Scripture repeatedly that we were not designed to look to ourselves for wisdom or strength but rather to lean on our Creator (Proverbs 3:5-7; Isaiah 26:3-4; Isaiah 40:28-31; John 14:26-27; John 15:1-9).
Secondly, the person who trusts in the Lord is not moved by external circumstances. There will be difficulties that come (as illustrated by heat and drought). However, the believer is kept safe even in the face of adversity.
Not only are they able to stand, but they can also bear fruit. We see this imagery used throughout Scripture, as believers are told that fruit can only be borne through abiding in Christ (John 15:1-9).
Additionally, life through the Spirit results in the fruit of “…love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Gal. 5:22-23).
In stark contrast, the previous verse in Jeremiah reads:
“This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.” (Jeremiah 17:5-6)
What we can take from this passage is not condemnation, but rather we observe a God who desperately wants His children to trust Him. No authentic fruit can be produced apart from Him. Inside His care, believers can experience peace even in uncertainty and hope even in life’s difficult circumstances.
We are called made to make not just what we perceive as “good decisions” but godly ones.
When we trust in God’s loving guidance, we are given rest, hope, and strength. We receive the love of the Father, and through the Spirit working in our hearts, we can extend it to others.
How Do We Trust?
What does trust look like, practically speaking? How can we place things at the feet of Jesus while still being good stewards of the gifts He has given us?
- Staying grounded in Scripture. The Bible was given to instruct us, correct us, and train us for righteousness, as it was given by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16).
- Continual prayer. We need time to spend enjoying the Father’s presence, listening to Him, and presenting our hearts before Him in praise, adoration, confession, and supplication. When worry tries to get the best of us, we can talk to God and remind our own hearts that we are held by someone far greater than us.
- Seeking to please God rather than ourselves. When we trust God, we are also trusting His plans and what He has declared to be important. Even when we do not understand, we can lean on the One who is all-knowing.
- Taking time to make decisions. Though some decisions require a timely response, many decisions allow for time simply to ponder. We can seek God’s will through study and prayer, and wise counsel.
- Surrendering our very lives to Him. It is good to have dreams, desires and to make plans. However, if we are gripping onto them so tightly that we lose focus of our life’s true purpose (glorifying God), then we have missed the point. True peace, joy, and life itself are found in surrender.
Trusting When It’s Difficult
The truth of the matter is trust may be hard for many of us. We desire to know what is ahead or to make sense of the circumstances that we are facing.
In these times, it is helpful to remember who it is we are trusting. God has revealed Himself as a loving Father, our guide, and more than capable of sustaining us throughout our lives.
The Lord is honest with us: there will certainly be hardships in this life. But we are promised to never be alone but to draw our strength from the Living Water.
I do not know what you are facing today. Maybe you’ve experienced heartache and are scared to trust Him again fully. Or perhaps you are experiencing a hardship, and the question “why” is at the forefront of your mind.
I do know that the God who is faithful to His children loves you deeply and is more than capable of continuing the work He has started. He is good (Psalm 100:5)
May we put our trust fully in God and become like a trust planted by the water.
Blessings,
[1] “Jeremiah 17.” STEP. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.stepbible.org/.
[2] “Trust Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trust.