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.
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.”

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
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

There are things, places, and people we all run to in order to find peace, purpose and joy. After a long day at home or at work, we seek these things out to find rest. But after all is said and done, we often find ourselves more tired and frustrated than when we started. Let’s pause for a second, go back, and read this passage of scripture again. What sticks out to you?

Satan has us believing a pretty convincing lie. He is constantly telling us that we can do this. Just try harder, run faster, experiment with something new, and then you will find what you seek. All you need is you. We buy into this lie because it makes logical sense to us. And yet, we’re only left feeling empty and confused.

But this is what the Lord says,

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 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 17:7-8

Do you see? The Lord wants us to return to Him because we were created to be His.

Have you ever gone through a crisis and found yourself getting up early just to pray for wisdom or healing? What was that like? All of a sudden you had strength moment by moment – you had peace. New developments didn’t rattle you. Instead, you were girded up and ready for whatever may come. You were planted on a rock, and that rock could not be shaken. And the amazing thing was that it actually didn’t make any logical sense at all. But you found yourself being held, protected, and sustained by God himself.

Every day has its own trouble, whether it be of the mind, home, or in the world. But the same love exists – ready and waiting. Repent, return, and come to know the joy of finding your strength not in yourself, but in the love and grace of God.