Courage #6 — Fruitful Courage

Blessed are those who trust in the Eternal and whose trust is the Eternal. For they will be like trees planted by the water, that extend their roots by a stream. They will not fear when the heat comes; rather, their leaves will be green, and they will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

Every one of us wants our life to “count,” to be “significant,” to have “meaning.” Since we have been created in the image of God, and according to his purpose, we must see our significance in those terms. The green leaves and fruit of Jeremiah’s analogy are the attitudes and actions which allow people to see clearly the glory of the God we represent. We bear this fruit to the extent that the grace of God fills us to overflowing. In the heat of life in the office, in the class room, in the field, or in the home, our assurance that God’s grace is readily available gives us courage to think and act righteously. We can experience the assurance that God will provide for us because Jesus’ death and resurrection guarantee all of God’s promises will come true. Otherwise we would be anxious in the face of every challenge. Then there would be no fruit, no demonstration of the trustworthiness and glory of God. No demonstration, no significance.

O eternal God, I want to be like Jeremiah’s blessed tree. Plant me by your river of grace with full confidence that it will always be filled from your eternal spring of joy in Jesus’ name. Amen.