Stand Tall

Photo by Larry Brock

“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 17:7-8

When I moved from Minnesota to Louisiana as a teenager, one of the things that fascinated me most about my new environment was the cypress trees. These majestic beauties can reach heights of 100-150 feet and have massive trunks that often extend down into lakes, streams, or swamps. Their roots reach deep into the water. They are certainly not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.

These massive trees are a visual reminder of those who trust in the Lord, those who have made the Lord their hope and confidence. In times of heat or drought, other trees struggle to survive. They may shed their leaves or stop producing fruit to conserve resources, but the cypress trees remain green. They continue to thrive even when conditions are unfavorable.

When we put our trust in the Lord, when He becomes our hope and confidence, we too will thrive during unfavorable times. It doesn’t mean that unfavorable times won’t come, for they certainly will. It just means that when we trust in the Lord, we will stand tall and continue to flourish despite the circumstances.