Trust In The Lord

Posted by davidluiz in Daily Devotional

The past five to six months have brought with them major economic despair and loss for the citizens of our world. The American economy which has always been considered one of the greatest and most stable experienced a major economic meltdown as major corporations were forced to file for bankruptcy, liquidate or go out of existence. The value of real estate reached an all time low as major investment companies went belly up due to the impact of the economic meltdown on the credit system. While different theorists have different explanations for why this happened, one thing remains certain in the minds of all; a worldwide recession is already in effect and no nation is out of its reach.  In such a time as this, the economic policies of our nations, stocks and lifetime investments of many have failed to provide a safety net into which those that hoped in them can safely rely on.

“Thus saith the Lord; cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” Jeremiah 17:5-6.

The Word of God gives example after example of situations when there was an economic downturn and what various biblical personalities did to sustain themselves in such times. For one thing, it clearly mentions that those that place their trust in another man, rely on their human strength or who turn their face away from the Lord in such times are cursed. The word cursed means to be reserved to misfortune, evil or doom. In times such as these, there is the temptation to rely on our human connections for our financial sustenance or to rely on our skill, mental prowess or academic qualifications to ensure we remain a vital part of the working population. However, the Word of God says that if we do, we are bound to have misfortune and Ill fate (Ecclesiastes 9:11). In these times, there is also the great temptation to invest more in our jobs or in other things that are not necessarily evil but that have the capacity to turn our hearts away from the Lord when done in excess. There is the temptation to spend more time in our businesses in order to make more money so we can buy the things we need and still have extra savings but the danger in this is that it could cause our hearts to turn away from the Lord and from his work; when we no longer have time to spend in the expansion of his kingdom. The bible warns that if we walk down any of these paths, we will only be headed for misfortune, gloom and sorrow.

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, nether shall cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:6-8.

On the contrary, if we will but put our hope and trust in the Lord, we are promised health in times of sickness, prosperity in times of famine and pleasure in times of despair. We are literally told that we will be like a tree whose leaved are ever green; even in the time of drought. The word trust means to rely on the ability, integrity or strength of a person or thing. Thus, to place our trust in the Lord means to rely on his integrity to keep his Word, to meet all our needs and to promote us even in times when everyone and everything seems to be going down. The later part of Jeremiah 17 and verse 8 says that the one that trusts in the Lord will not be careful in the year of drought because he will not cease to yield fruit; even when other trees are wilting and drying up.

From this comparison of the man that trusts in his fellow man and the one that trusts in the Lord, it is clear that to trust in the Lord is the wisest thing to do. Trusting in God means placing our hope and expectations in him, it means relying or leaning on him. God will most times use men to bless us but that will only be as a result of our trust in God and not in the men he uses. Let us place all our hope and expectation in the Lord because he is able to keep our leaves green in the time of famine and to keep us bearing fruit even in times of drought.