Rooted

Photo by Wade Franklin

Trees grow their roots into the ground to find water. A tree planted by a stream is better able to survive summer heat or drought, than a shrub in a desert place. The image of a tree by the water is used several times in the Bible as a symbol of the person who trusts God.


Nowhere is there a promise in the Bible that those who trust God will have an easy life. Lean times do come. The heat of all sorts of difficulties come.


The secret of spritual flourishing through hard times and good is in the source of 'living water' for life. Streams of living water symbolise the life-giving God, source of all there is.


The prophet Jeremiah gave his message through a tough period of time, political instability, economic hardship, fear of enemies. Much of his book has warnings of the doom to come, if people refuse to turn from evil ways to turn back to God. It also has beautiful pictures of hope in God. I love this one:

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,

whose trust is the Lord.

they shall be like a tree planted by water,

sending out its roots by the stream.

It shall not fear when heat comes,

and its leaves shall stay green;

in the year of drought it is not anxious,

and it does not cease to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17: 7-8

This post is the 26th in a series of daily Lenten reflections based on one of the Bible readings from the Common worship Lectionary of the church of England. This one is based on Jeremiah 17: 5-18