“SUMMER HEAT” – August 14
August 14, 2013“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 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.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
Utah desert Mist (Photo credit: Loco Steve)
My personal battle with gophers continues but the media has changed. The gophers continue to mound the debris of their subterranean creations on the surface of my field. However, these mounds are no longer heaps of malleable brown clay containing the lingering moisture of a long winter. The heat of summer has wrung the soil dry. My field is speckled by tan mounds of wisping dust, dug from earth hardened by months of unrelenting heat.
The sun scorches this field in its natural condition. Agriculture fruit does not sprout from its soil since irrigation water is beyond the reach of even the most adventurous root. The green along the ditch banks stands in sole defiance against the brown of August heat. A canopy of green aligns the irrigation waste ditch running below this waterless field. Trees have sprung up to the sky and their leaves remain green no matter the number of days whose temperatures eclipse the century mark.
English: Oasis near Ica in Peru (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The heat cannot brown the leaves of these trees. These trees have sent out their roots beneath the source of sustaining water. These trees have no reason to fear the bleakness of their surroundings because all that can been seen is not what is ensuring their life.
We all go through dry times. We all will experience the spiritual bleakness of an August month. The heat of circumstances can feel as if it were wringing dry the freshness of our soul. As the spiritual drought comes on, we might have the tendency to panic. We might become dejected and anxious. We might allow our eyes to go in search of refreshment to stave off our parched sensibilities.
We have no need to fear when we trust in the Lord. When we place our trust in the Lord, it is like roots sunk deep under a mighty river. The refreshing living water that will sustain us through any scorching trial comes through the conduits of trust. A Child of God can continue to be a productive oasis even in the bleakest of desert because they are not nourished by what is on the surface. Their trust is in what is unseen. Their assurance is in things hoped for.
I have walked through many a dry spell. Those have been discouraging times that I have not enjoyed. However, there have been lessons for me in each exposure to the intense heat life.
The most important lesson of these trials has been trust. When I feel a drought coming on, my tendency has been to get anxious. I don’t like the heat. I don’t like the discomfort that I know is coming. I love the freshness of a spiritual spring. I relish the vitality that comes to me when my surroundings are drenching me with the water of encouragement and joy. New growth and fruit comes naturally and easy in the spring of my soul.
I then have to put my trust in the promises of God. Trust in God pumps His living water to a soul being wrung dry from the heat of a dry season. That is why we are blessed. We are blessed because through the power of a great and living God we can thrive through any barrenness. We are blessed because we have a Father in heaven who gives us what we need, when we need it. He is the one who sustains us when we feel like we are going to shrivel up and blow away.
We just need to continue to trust Him.
PRAYER: Lord, you know how much I dislike dry seasons. However, I know that I need them. I know that I need to learn how to trust you more. I know that I don’t trust you like I should. Help me to trust you more. Thank you for all the blessings that flow from trusting in you. You are so good to me. You have sustained me through so many droughts. I know that you will carry me through the dry seasons that are yet to come. Thank you. Help me to be fruitful in all seasons. I pray this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A DEVOTED LIFE 
Beautiful words; refreshing and encouraging. Blessings to you for sharing your wisdom!
Great parallels in your article. I hate dry spells – droughts are even worse!
\o/
In the middle of a drought, I am tempted to seek other ways to quench my thirst. These worldly ways promote themselves as satisfying your thirst, but only leave you thirsting for more and more. Thank you for your encouraging words, the reminder to remain firmly planted in The Lord even though I am in the middle of a drought. Your post reminds me that my life can be an oasis for others as long as I continue to tap into the living water of Jesus Christ. John 4:13-14 comes to mind where Jesus tells the woman at the well, “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Hard times come but when they do, I grip God’s word just a little tighter. I am living proof that God’s word is the truth and the truth will set a woman free. I treasure your insight.
Agree, the dry spells are difficult but knowing the LORD is nourishing us through them helps us to stay strong and grow.
Agreed: I don’t like the dry spells, and I don’t like feeling anxious. The best source of refreshment is God’s Word, especially His promises. ‘Love your prayer, too, JD: “Help me to be fruitful in all seasons.” In fact, focusing on fruitfulness can help us take our minds off a season of drought! Thank you for the insightful post.
Reblogged this on One Starving Activist and commented:
This post was certainly like a cool drink in the hot desert that is my life…
Dry spells can be so discouraging and sometimes it is hard to know whether they come by the hand of God or if another’s handiwork has us in his grips and we are so blinded by the heat that we fail to acknowledge God’s presence with us even in the blistering dry spells. Whichever, I personally find them hard to bear and if I hadn’t come through so many I would be even more discouraged. You are an inspiration. Keep Blogging!
This is a Godsend…please pray for me. 🙂