In God We Put Our Trust

Hi, and thanks for joining us for today's encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional. Our reading was written by Regi Keller, and she titled it, In God We Put Our Trust. The baby wasn't due for another six weeks, but the doctor had just diagnosed Whitney with colostasis, a liver condition common in pregnancy. In a whirlwind of emotions, Whitney was taken to the hospital where she received treatment and was told her baby would be induced in 24 hours.

In another part of the hospital, ventilators and other equipment needed for the onslaught of COVID-19 cases were being put into place. As a result, Whitney was sent home. She made the decision to trust God and His plans, and she delivered a healthy baby a few days later. When Scripture takes root in us, it transforms the way we react in trying situations. Jeremiah lived in a time when most of society trusted in human alliances and the worship of idols was prevalent. In Jeremiah 17, the prophet contrasts the person who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord with the one who trusts in God. He said, Blessed is the one whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that does not fear when heat comes.

Its leaves are always green. As believers in Jesus, we are called to live by faith as we look to Him for solutions. As He provides the strength, we can choose to fear or to trust Him. God says we are blessed, fully satisfied when we choose to place our trust in Him.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Jeremiah chapter 17, verses 5 through 8. This is what the Lord says, Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands. They will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes. Its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Let's pray. Dear God, we thank you that we can trust you in all situations and that we can lean on you for comfort and direction when we come to you in prayer. You are right here in the midst of our struggles and you always give us the strength when we need it. Thank you. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening. My name is Rachelle Traube and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.