Times of Growth

 Jeremiah 17:5-8 Tells us that we should trust in our Lord even during times of draught.  In those versus Jeremiah shows us that we will be like trees planted near streams of water that offers us relief even when the rain does not fall.  

When taking agronomy at school, they taught us that when a crop is planted in the spring that experiences draught, this consequently causes the plants to grow roots that go down deep until they reach moisture in the soil.  Contrary to this, when there is a wet spring, newly planted crops grow shallow roots in the soil.  They don’t need to grow deep since the moisture in the soil is close to the surface. 

Later in the season when the rains are more scarce, those plants that have deep roots are more resistant to the dry climate since they have roots that are deep and are at the depth that is less affected by the drought at that time.  I have seen that take place in watching my crops that were planted in wet springs as well as those planted during dry seasons.  

The same can be said for us as Christians; growth takes place when we have experienced needs in our lives and have looked to our Lord

 for guidance, patience, and trust.  Like a trained athlete that grows in strength by experiencing the trials of endurance and commitment, we too can grow in our trust and reliance on our father when we are going through our “dry” periods of life.  It is during these times that real growth begins for us.  Proverbs 3:5&6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Trust though is not blind; it yields to the one who knows the right path when we do not.