The Ant and the Elephant

Find your song and sing the harmony of your reconciled heart.

5 This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land.
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NLT)

How these verses speak to me:

Blessed are you, __________, mighty and strong because you have put your trust and hope in the Lord. You have found your confidence and security in the Most High God.  You are like a transplanted tree along the refreshing waters of the river that sends out its roots to the living waters.  Because you have put all your trust in the Lord and refuse to trust your own strength or wealth, you will stand unshakable, for the Lord is with you.

When heat or drought comes, you will not be concerned or worried because you will always bear fruit and your leaves will always be green. Attacks and storms may come your way, but not one branch shall be moved. You will prosper and flourish through the storms. Even in times of drought or destitution, though the rain may not fall for a period of time, You will not be unshakable, You will not be anxious or worried. For you know His perfect peace removes all fear.

You will trust fully in the Lord Jesus. He is your rock and fortress. Though these seasons may come and go, You will never stop yielding fruitfulness in your life. You will accomplish all the Lord has planned for your life. You will always be provided for, protected and promoted.

Finding contentment in this fallen world can be quit elusive. People move through life with anxiety, fear of the future, regrets of the past and a basic dissatisfaction for the present. 

For many, just reading yet alone making declarations like we’ve just read can stir anxiety and even disbelief.

Life rarely plays out in alignment with our desires. Yet being unsatisfied with our past or present circumstances is only part of what causes the common lack in contentment.

This unbelieving world searches for contentment in places where it can never be found. Wealth, power, prestige, and temporal pleasure all hold a strong allure, but they only cultivate our lust for more. They end up becoming the source that never satisfies.

True contentment comes from living a life rooted in the soil of God’s love. Find your song and sing the harmony of your reconciled heart. 

The apostle Paul instructed the church at Philippi to,

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

Contentment is never detached from our passions; rather, it was found in our ultimate passion—Christ Jesus. Contentment through our seasons of life are found through our “connectedness” with the Father through Christ who alone can and will satisfy!

Resist allowing this world to isolate you when you’re experiencing a season of drought. There is a perpetual spring of Living Water just below the surface. Go a little deeper. Trust, obey and discover the refreshing and satisfying life source He is. In Jesus, you will never thirst again (John 4).

True contentment is more fully realized not by what you can get from the river but rather the invigorating shiver you get by being in the River. 

Your contentment will blossom and grow out of genuine appreciation and gratitude for all that God has done. You will discover a richness and depth of texture to your life as you continue to trust in the Lord and make Him your Hope and Confidence.

With lots of Love,
Bob and Audrey

P.S. Be sure to join the conversation in the comments below or on facebook with your declarations of Hope and Confidence in the Lord.