Trusting and Fruit

Yesterday was great! It was filled with powerful worship, an encouraging message, hours relaxing in my small pool, and dinner with our church's worship team. I felt God's presence as I helped on the worship team that morning. We declared "God is Able....He will never fail." As I was ministering through music and word, however, I heard a whisper in my head telling me that I was going to "pay for this tomorrow".

It does happen so often, doesn't it? After the mountain top, a valley. After a victory, a defeat. And I felt the heaviness in my spirit even as I crawled out of bed and hit the floor. "Oh God, oh God, please use me today. Thank you for this day! I worship You, I trust You."  I had time for meaningful devotionals, did a journal page focusing on the word, "trust". There are so many promises in the Word that I'm standing on but still the heaviness persisted. Financial concerns are weighing me down as well as the health uncertainty that's often lurking around the edges of my thoughts. The heat felt oppressive as I did my Monday tasks of bookwork and laundry. I remembered the quote...."when you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on". I thought of this expression of my grandson's face when we ask him to show us his muscles. So I made a face and shook my fist at the enemy of my soul. "I'm hangin' on! All WILL be well."

And just like that, the storm clouds rolled in softening the oppressive heat. Jerry and I were still getting the clothes off of the wash line when the large raindrops began to fall. The humidity eased and my spirit was lighter. What a difference the rain makes! It cleanses the debris from the air, makes breathing easier and renews hope. The rain/reign of the Holy Spirit makes a way where there seems to be no way for us to trust Him in these days of uncertainty and unrest in our world and hearts.

The Scripture passage that I'm carrying with me everywhere these days is this:

Blessed is the woman who trusts in the LORD and whose trust IS the LORD.

For she will be like a tree planted by the water,

That extends its roots by the stream

And will NOT fear when the heat comes;

But its leaves will be green,

And it will NOT be anxious in a year of drought

Nor cease to YIELD FRUIT.    Jeremiah 17:7,8

Are you in a season of heat? A year of drought? When we put our trust in the Lord, when He IS our trust, we can still yield fruit!!! This is a wonderful promise to cling to. I want my life to count. Whether I have 1 day or 10,000 days left on this earth. I want each one of them to be filled with purpose. And that can happen as I trust God with the tough stuff, in the middle of the heat of summer and a year of drought.

Recently I was a part of an informal reunion of 8 women who were in the Strasburg Mennonite Youth Group together, um, about 40 years ago.  As we went around the circle sharing the stories of our families and triumphs and losses, we were aware that no one is exempt from the heat and drought. It's how we choose to live in those trials that makes all of the difference. These precious women from my past are reflecting God's faithfulness and goodness as their lives continue to yield fruit even in the midst of some very difficult circumstances. Always remember, friend, GOD IS GOOD. GOD IS FAITHFUL. GOD IS TRUSTWORTHY. Can I get an amen?