When a tree is exposed to extra hot sunny days, they close their stomata (stoma) to prevent water loss and preserve water. Stoma are little pores on the leaves which let air and moisture in and out of the plant. This is how the plants let out oxygen for us to breathe. While photosynthesis creates energy for the plant, it takes in the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using these itty bitty pores. As the summer gets hotter, the roots will dive deeper and deeper looking for a water source and sustenance. This is where the location of the plant becomes important. If there is not a water source readily available and the plant cannot grow the root system to support the season, it will die of thirst. First, it will wilt a little then kneel over then get a little brown and eventually die.
Why am I talking about plant life? While I was too busy to read the Bible because I had to catch on instagram, a calm voice in my heart asked me “Where are you planted?” I lifted my eyes of the screen to think of i one the scripture that brought me comfort in the past
Jeremiah 17: 7,8 (ESV) “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Where are you planted? Where do you place your trust? I trust my doctors to make the right diagnosis and my hair stylist to do my hair. I will not trust my hair stylist to diagnose my disease. Similarly no matter how good a surgeon is, you are not messing with my hair until it is for a medical procedure. We trust people with some parts of our lives, not all. What do you hold close to you and not let anyone see it? What is it? Is it a wild card as in UNO or your biggest shame? Bring it to cross and trust the Lord with it. He can take it from you and give you rest so that when the day just keeps getting hotter and hotter, you can grow your roots deeper into Him and His Word. The Lord speaks to His people through the Bible today. When was the last time you spent time in the Word? Not your obligatory reading but actually spend time like a baby elephant would splash around in water. Drink from His Word until your thirst is quenched. You look parched because of the heat. You look around and see that everybody is suffering – some more than others. During summer the same temperature hits all the plants in the same area and what makes one survive and another die is how close there are to the water.
Place your trust in the Lord and trust the Lord in EVERYTHING. He has made all things beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Does it mean we just need to adjust our perspective to see the beauty? Maybe we will see the beauty when it is time for us to see? When God opens our eyes, we see how He always planned on preserving us despite the desert-like hostile environment (Genesis 21:19).
Just because you are planted by water i.e., has a good church family, praying spouse, accountability partner,… unless you send your root out by the stream, you will die of thirst! Harsh? Maybe. If you are not taking the time to spend time with the Lord by yourself not to please anyone, not to check off your daily Bible reading plan but to satisfy your soul, spend some quality time like a date night with the Lord, you are going to wilt during extra hot days. You may do fine for so long but when the heat starts to be scorching, the ones without roots towards water will wilt. When there are talks of war and famine, they get anxious. The ones with the roots towards water will stay green. They may not have looked magnificent when all was well. However, the time to distinguish between the chaff and wheat is at the winnowing field. When you are pressed against adversity, where do you run to? The throne of grace? Bar? Strip club? Mall? Do you run to Jesus or something else?
For the last few months, every morning, the news is filled with anxiety-inducing matters. Even those without an anxiety disorder cannot cope with today’s threats. The year 2020 started with talk of war and now we as a species are facing a pandemic – COVID-19! People are losing jobs, fighting over toilet paper, the stock market is crashing, the world is going into a recession that may take a few years to recover. How are you feeling, dear child of God? Where is your trust? Even in a year (not a season, mind you) of drought, what is your plan to cope? Will you stay green and keep on making fruits? We are to make fruits in season and out of season. God does not expect us to be perfect all the time. However, He expects us to be faithful.
During this trying time, let us lean on Him, the author AND finisher of our salvation. God knew there will be COVID-19 and He planted you where you are. Keep bearing fruit, Close your stoma to the world, grow those roots towards His Word and trust Him! This is a great time to pray for your coworkers and lead them to this stream of water that will never run dry.
Isaiah 55: 1-3 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.