Life Plan Devotion #127 [Deep roots]

Jeremiah 17:7-8 "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" (NLT).

In the two verses prior to Jeremiah 17:7-8, God says that if a person trusts in man rather than God, he is cursed. Instead of prospering, that man will wither away like a desert bush. That man will be unfruitful, sooner or later.
A righteous person is blessed because his/her "confidence" and "trust" is in God, rather than self, another person, or even a thing (like one's job). A righteous person will flourish like a tree planted by the water, with roots that go deep, directly into the water.
The picture seems perfect, doesn't it. It's not, of course, and those difficulties are represented figuratively by "heat" and "drought." Even though "heat" and "drought" circumstances may come, the righteous person will not react with worry or fear.
Because the righteous person refuses to worry or be afraid, God promises that he/she will continue to prosper. Even when it seems to go against the circumstances (heat, drought), the righteous person's "leaves say green, and they never stop producing fruit."
When circumstances come, that present the opportunity to either trust God or worry, which do you tend to do? God blesses the one who trusts in Him, for God has proven Himself trustworthy.
Righteous one, when you are tempted to give in to fear or worry, think back to the times that God "came through for you," and praise Him that He will do it again! With every praise, with every determined thought of "I trust You," your "roots" go deeper and you will "produce fruit," even when you do not see a drop of rain!

What this has to do with weight loss: I have been amazed at the stories I've read, of those who have suffered post-weight-loss surgery complications. The ones whom I most admire are resilient and attribute their resiliency to a deep, abiding faith and trust in the Lord. They have learned that their "heat" and "drought" difficulties have an expiration date, and they patiently wait the Lord's move in that regard. If you are that person, dear reader, please know that I'm praying for you. If you are struggling, unable to trust in the Lord, please know that I'm praying for you, too, that you will come to know that He is worthy of your trust.

Confession:
No matter the circumstances that come my way, I will trust and put my confidence in God, for He has proven Himself trustworthy. Because I trust in the Lord, I am blessed.