1 00:00:02,630 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: Life Audio Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. 2 00:00:13,420 --> 00:00:16,780 Speaker 2: We're glad to have you listening with us. Today's topic 3 00:00:16,940 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 2: is about trusting God during seasons of hardship. We'll return 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,770 Speaker 2: with the devotion after a brief message from our sponsors. 5 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:44,100 Speaker 2: What Bare Branches Can Teach Us About Trust Written and 6 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:49,220 Speaker 2: read by Sarah Fraser Blessed is the man who trusts 7 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 2: in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. Jeremiah 17, 8 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:59,590 Speaker 2: 7 Every season, I take a quick snapshot of the 9 00:00:59,650 --> 00:01:02,770 Speaker 2: tree in our front yard. We've only lived in our 10 00:01:02,830 --> 00:01:05,730 Speaker 2: house for a few years, but this tree was obviously 11 00:01:05,790 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 2: planted a decade or more ago. It looms over half 12 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,060 Speaker 2: of our yard and into the neighbor's yard. I take 13 00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:17,580 Speaker 2: a picture because as the earth rotates and the weather 14 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,990 Speaker 2: shifts from cold to warm, then back again, my tree changes. 15 00:01:22,010 --> 00:01:28,429 Speaker 2: I love every single season of this tree. It is 16 00:01:28,470 --> 00:01:31,709 Speaker 2: the same tree all year round, but it looks so 17 00:01:31,890 --> 00:01:36,500 Speaker 2: different depending on the weather. The cycles of trees are 18 00:01:36,540 --> 00:01:38,620 Speaker 2: not new to those of us who live in a 19 00:01:38,660 --> 00:01:42,100 Speaker 2: climate that has all four seasons. We know that in 20 00:01:42,340 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 2: the spring, small buds appear and green begins to grow. 21 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,540 Speaker 2: In summer, trees are filled with flowers and fruit. As 22 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 2: fall moves in with colder winds and rain, the tree's 23 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:58,420 Speaker 2: leaves change color and drop to the earth. Winter strips 24 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:02,980 Speaker 2: the tree of all color and beauty. Snow might make 25 00:02:03,020 --> 00:02:06,420 Speaker 2: the tree look magical, but let's be honest, this sweet 26 00:02:06,500 --> 00:02:09,420 Speaker 2: tree in my front yard is not the prettiest during 27 00:02:09,620 --> 00:02:15,139 Speaker 2: the winter, when the branches are barren. As I think 28 00:02:15,220 --> 00:02:19,059 Speaker 2: about my tree, I can't help but think of Jeremiah's 29 00:02:19,139 --> 00:02:23,820 Speaker 2: tree in the Old Testament. Jeremiah was a prophet filled 30 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,970 Speaker 2: with sorrow and heartache. He preached during a time of 31 00:02:28,050 --> 00:02:33,930 Speaker 2: political turmoil and spiritual idolatry. The nation Judah was on 32 00:02:33,950 --> 00:02:38,389 Speaker 2: the brink of collapse. Israel had already fallen. The prophet 33 00:02:38,470 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 2: foresees the destruction of the beautiful city of Jerusalem and 34 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 2: tries to warn the people. In the midst of his 35 00:02:45,580 --> 00:02:49,660 Speaker 2: voice of condemnation, we find pockets of hope. In the 36 00:02:49,700 --> 00:02:54,100 Speaker 2: middle of Jeremiah 17, we read about a tree. For 37 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: several chapters, Jeremiah has spoken about the coming famine, sword 38 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,370 Speaker 2: and pestilence waiting for God's people. Because of their sin, 39 00:03:03,910 --> 00:03:07,790 Speaker 2: Jeremiah 17, 1-4, they will now have to face the 40 00:03:07,870 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: consequences and punishment. For centuries, God has been patient and 41 00:03:13,900 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: kind with them. But now he must punish evil. God 42 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,959 Speaker 2: says that if they return to him, he will rescue them. 43 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,330 Speaker 2: But instead, we read that they want to trust in 44 00:03:25,350 --> 00:03:29,769 Speaker 2: their own abilities and help from outside the people of Israel. 45 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 2: Jeremiah 17, 5-6 Still, even though doom is coming, God 46 00:03:37,380 --> 00:03:40,420 Speaker 2: makes a way for His people to find grace, mercy, 47 00:03:40,580 --> 00:03:46,820 Speaker 2: and hope. Jeremiah 17, 7-8 says, Blessed is the man 48 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 49 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: He is like a tree planted by water that sends 50 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 2: out its roots by the stream and does not fear 51 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,810 Speaker 2: when heat comes. for its leaves remain green, and is 52 00:04:02,890 --> 00:04:06,170 Speaker 2: not anxious in the year of drought, nor does it 53 00:04:06,230 --> 00:04:10,130 Speaker 2: not cease to bear fruit. Maybe you feel like your 54 00:04:10,190 --> 00:04:15,140 Speaker 2: world is in turmoil, filled with the unknowns, heartaches, griefs, 55 00:04:15,740 --> 00:04:19,539 Speaker 2: and loneliness. I don't know about you, but when I'm 56 00:04:19,580 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 2: in the hardest struggles of my life, I can't even 57 00:04:22,620 --> 00:04:26,300 Speaker 2: fathom how fruit or flowers can grow in my life. 58 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,630 Speaker 2: There have been periods of weeks of Months and yes, 59 00:04:30,830 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 2: even years, where I have been so weary that my 60 00:04:35,140 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 2: life feels so unproductive. I get up, do the bare minimum, 61 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,940 Speaker 2: and fall into bed each night with not much to show. 62 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 2: My house remains messy, my Bible gets dusty on the nightstand, 63 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 2: and prayer feels so hollow. How can Jeremiah promise that 64 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 2: if we trust the Lord, we will not be anxious? 65 00:04:59,529 --> 00:05:03,110 Speaker 2: cease to bear fruit, and never fail to have green leaves? 66 00:05:03,750 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 2: How is this even possible during times that feel so barren? 67 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,740 Speaker 2: When life is turned inside out and grief lays like 68 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:18,420 Speaker 2: a heavy fog, none of that feels true. Can I 69 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:23,130 Speaker 2: tell you a secret? In God's kingdom and His economy, 70 00:05:24,010 --> 00:05:31,020 Speaker 2: times of hardship actually can be producing fruit. Notice that 71 00:05:31,060 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 2: first Jeremiah says trust in the Lord twice. This isn't 72 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:40,220 Speaker 2: a typo, but an emphasis. During what might seem like 73 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:46,450 Speaker 2: fruitless seasons, our only job is to trust. Friend, let 74 00:05:46,470 --> 00:05:49,830 Speaker 2: me encourage you that trust is not a feeling, but 75 00:05:49,870 --> 00:05:53,750 Speaker 2: a choice. When everything around us is out of control, 76 00:05:54,270 --> 00:05:59,250 Speaker 2: God's sovereignty is not. We trust both God's character and 77 00:05:59,270 --> 00:06:03,770 Speaker 2: we trust His control. The next part of verse 7 78 00:06:03,770 --> 00:06:08,330 Speaker 2: and verse 8 tells us what will happen when we trust. 79 00:06:09,130 --> 00:06:11,350 Speaker 2: I love that all of these things are not something 80 00:06:11,410 --> 00:06:16,410 Speaker 2: we muster up or have to do. Remember, all God 81 00:06:16,490 --> 00:06:23,310 Speaker 2: is asking for us is trust. The original Hebrew word 82 00:06:23,830 --> 00:06:31,289 Speaker 2: for trust means to Be bold, confident, and secure. Because 83 00:06:31,350 --> 00:06:34,830 Speaker 2: we have a place with God and have placed our 84 00:06:34,910 --> 00:06:39,190 Speaker 2: faith in God, we have roots, green leaves, and fruit. 85 00:06:40,350 --> 00:06:45,539 Speaker 2: The roots are the most important thing about trees. Strong 86 00:06:45,740 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 2: roots anchor the tree so that winds and storms don't 87 00:06:50,020 --> 00:06:55,429 Speaker 2: topple it. The roots also provide nutrition. During the winter 88 00:06:55,550 --> 00:06:58,730 Speaker 2: and cold months when the branches are bare, the roots 89 00:06:58,890 --> 00:07:03,230 Speaker 2: are still growing. The tree doesn't have to produce nutrients 90 00:07:03,270 --> 00:07:06,740 Speaker 2: to the leaves and fruit, so all of its energy 91 00:07:06,860 --> 00:07:12,540 Speaker 2: is spent on growing deeper roots. During our winter seasons, 92 00:07:12,980 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: as we trust God and lean into Him for strength, 93 00:07:17,020 --> 00:07:20,210 Speaker 2: reading the Word and praying, we find that our faith 94 00:07:20,410 --> 00:07:24,820 Speaker 2: is still growing. On the outside, it might look as 95 00:07:24,930 --> 00:07:30,410 Speaker 2: if we are barren, empty, and non-productive. But times of quiet, 96 00:07:31,250 --> 00:07:37,270 Speaker 2: simple communion with God actually brings about the most productive fruit. 97 00:07:38,510 --> 00:07:42,150 Speaker 2: Charles Spurgeon said, Do not look at your time with those. 98 00:07:41,970 --> 00:07:43,470 Speaker 1: Barren branches empty. 99 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:58,350 Speaker 2: As unfruitful, God is working in your life. Just because 100 00:07:58,390 --> 00:08:01,950 Speaker 2: you can't see how, you can trust that your tree 101 00:08:02,090 --> 00:08:06,570 Speaker 2: is by the living waters of God. Psalm 1-3 says 102 00:08:06,610 --> 00:08:09,870 Speaker 2: that those who delight in God's word and meditate on 103 00:08:09,950 --> 00:08:14,170 Speaker 2: it will be like a tree planted by streams of 104 00:08:14,270 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 2: water that yield its fruit in its season and its 105 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:25,540 Speaker 2: leaf does not wither. In all that he does, He prospers. 106 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:33,500 Speaker 2: Some seasons of life look fruitful. Others feel like bare branches. 107 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,270 Speaker 2: But God may be doing His deepest work in places 108 00:08:37,730 --> 00:08:43,849 Speaker 2: you can't see. So instead of measuring this season by 109 00:08:43,970 --> 00:08:48,130 Speaker 2: what you are accomplishing, consider where your roots are growing. 110 00:08:49,030 --> 00:08:53,219 Speaker 2: Where is God asking you to to trust Him right now. 111 00:08:54,679 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 2: What might He be growing beneath the surface that you 112 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:07,449 Speaker 2: cannot yet see? Additional Reading Psalm 1, 1-3 John 15, 113 00:09:07,429 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 2: 4-5 Colossians 2, 6-7 2 Corinthians 4, 16-18 James 1, 2-4. 114 00:09:30,020 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 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