In Whom Do You Trust?

In whom do you trust? This question may not be one you have ever really considered but the answer to it is often revealed when difficulty or suffering arrive at one’s doorstep.  It is revealed in how one responds to the difficulty or suffering one experiences. Now let me ask different question. In whom should you trust? The bible clearly answers this question in Jeremiah 17:5-8.

⁵ Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.

 ⁶ He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

 ⁷ “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.

 ⁸ 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.” (Jer. 17:5-8 ESV)

The LORD says that the man who trusts in man, the one who makes flesh his strength is cursed. This man’s heart turns away from God.  Cursed is the man who thinks his ability, or the ability of mankind is sufficient to save him. Cursed is the man who trusts in his riches. The LORD himself says cursed is the man who trusts in his strength. Trust is foolishly placed in any of these things. The wisdom of man will not save. The ingenuity of man will not save. The might of man will not save.  It is folly to trust in a job. It is folly to trust in a paycheck or a savings account.  It is folly to trust in one’s health. It is folly to trust in a government. The LORD says cursed is the man who trusts in man…. whose heart turns away from the LORD.

The LORD says this man, the one who trusts in man is like a shrub in the desert and shall not see any good come.  It is dried up and brittle. It has no leaves. This man shall not see any good come. Money, health, governmental stability can all be taken away in an instant. None of them will satisfy the soul. Even if all of these were in abundant supply throughout one’s life, they will profit him nothing if he loses his soul.

In contrast to the cursed man is the blessed man.  The LORD says the blessed man is one who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.  This man does not shirk personal responsibility, but his trust is in the LORD not what he can do in his own wisdom and strength.  His trust is the LORD. The LORD says this man 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. The man who trusts in the LORD is like this tree. He is watered and ready for the heat when it comes. He does not fear the trial. He does not fear the difficulty or the suffering because he trusts in the LORD.  His roots are nourished by the stream. When the heat comes his leaves remain green. They do not wilt. This man is not anxious in the year of drought, in the time of suffering, because he does not cease to bear fruit. When the suffering comes, he remains faithful. His trust in the LORD is steadfast. He continues to obey the LORD through the trial

So, counselors and counselees what does suffering reveal about where you have placed your trust.  When trials like COVID-19 come your way how do you respond? Does your response reveal that your trust has been in man? Does your response reveal that your trust has been in the LORD? Are you like the tree planted by streams of water or are you like the shrub in the desert?

By His Grace Alone,

Josh