Courage #6—Fruitful Courage

Blessed are those who trust in the Eternal, 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.” We have been created to be God’s representatives on earth, so that our actions accord with his purpose to display his glorious perfections. So we must see our search for significance from this perspective. One of his perfections is his ultimate trustworthiness that arises from being self-generating and self-sustaining. The green leaves and fruit of Jeremiah’s analogy are the attitudes and actions which allow other people to perceive accurately this particular aspect of the glory of the God we represent. We bear this fruit as his grace fills us and overflows from us in service to others. In the heat of life at work, at school, or in our homes, our assurance that God’s grace is readily available gives us courage to think and act righteously. We can also be certain that God will provide for us when we feel the heat, because he used his infinite power to raise Jesus from the dead. This certainty keeps us from be anxious in the face of every challenge. Thus there will be fruit, a demonstration of his glorious trustworthiness, meaning, and 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.