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.” (ESV)

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (NIV)

Dive Deeper

After memorizing that verse about cursed shrubs in the desert, boy, does this sound like the good life…

Hey, maybe your life is pretty good these days; you have so much to be thankful for. Do the “what-ifs” somehow still keep you up at night? One late-night Google search, and suddenly your stomach ache sounds like you might have a fatal disease. Even if life is good, that “what if” still finds a way to whisper in our ear. 

Whether your bank account is overflowing or barely hanging on…

You just filed for unemployment, or you’re wondering if AI might soon take your job…
You’ve just gotten a diagnosis, or just Googled your symptoms and spiraled…
You’re anxious.

Or not…

You see, the good life doesn’t mean without heat or drought. It means joy in the heat and fruit in the drought.

Jesus tells us plainly: “The heat will come and so will trouble.” We will have hardship all around us. He tells us some of those what-ifs will probably happen. Yet He tells us that we don’t need to be anxious, we don’t need to fear, because He has overcome the world. 

If He is our source of life and joy, then we, too, will overcome. The heat can’t touch us, the drought won’t take us. They actually strengthen us.

A tree that has roots in a stream relies only on that stream. The result of the heat causes it to dig deeper roots and take more from the stream. It flourishes in the drought. 

Those who are in Christ are confident. Our joy is secure, and our hope is unstoppable. 

So the question isn’t whether the heat is coming—it’s where you’re planted when it does. 

Don’t be afraid, for He is with you. Be confident. Not in your circumstances. In Christ.

Written by Blake Stanley