Trees Planted by Rivers of Water

What do you think of when you think of a tree planted by rivers of water? Specifically in the context of Psalm 1?

I always thought of it as big, strong, sturdy, unyielding to the wind and rain, with deep roots and a thick trunk, impervious, unmovable, solid. And I saw my own life as anything but that.

August 2022 to August 2023 probably qualifies so far as the most uncertain, unstable consecutive twelve months of my life. A whole lot happened, enough that it felt like twelve years. I watched so many doors close on me. Doors to a couple different relationships. Doors to several different job opportunities.

That twelve month period saw me move out of my parents' home in Maryland to take a job in Ohio. And then leave that job a mere four months later and move back home.

That twelve month period saw my reputation challenged and scarred.

That twelve month period saw me trying to make multiple decisions. And I wavered back and forth on those decisions like chaff blown around in the wind.

I was in a very bad spot, mentally speaking. Less because of the wavering, and more because of the implications. Because whenever I would turn to scripture for guidance, whenever I sought Abba Father for wisdom, I felt condemnation and judgement.

James 1:5-8 says, "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Psalm 1:1-6 says, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."

I was deeply troubled. Why was this happening to me? I wanted Abba's way. I desired his wisdom. I wanted his righteousness. So why did it feel like I was a double-minded, unstable, wicked man? Had I committed some unforgivable sin? Had I been handed to the tormentors? Had I unknowingly marked myself for damnation?

The inner turmoil and desperation kept me enslaved for months. But toward the end of August, my perspective changed. Drastically.

I had the opportunity to join a very good friend and sister in the Lord for a hike through Ricketts Glen National Park in Central Pennsylvania. And if you've never been there, the trail follows a creek deep down into a gorge, And along the way, the creek cascades into a whole bunch of waterfalls of all different sizes. And as we hiked along this trail, I couldn't help but take notice to the surrounding forestation. Particularly the spot in this article's cover photo. It gave me the whole idea for this message. So I took a picture.

Look at that picture very carefully. What stands out about it? How about the trees planted by rivers of water? Do they look big and mighty? Do they look unmoveable? Not nearly.

On one side of the creek, trees are growing on a steep incline. They're growing crooked. They look like they are so ready to fall over. And in the middle of the creek, the water has eroded its way through the earth to leave behind a little rock island. There are two trees growing on it. Their roots are shallow and exposed, no dirt to bury themselves into.

All these trees look super unstable. They're tall and slender, they probably waver a bit in high winds, and by all rights, they should fall over. But they don't. Because even though their roots are small, even though their roots are shallow, even though their trunks are skinny, these trees have one thing going for them.

Their roots are wrapped very snugly around a solid rock. 

The river eroded everything else, but that rock is still there. The tree looks unstable, but the rock is still there.

THAT is a tree planted by rivers of water.

Life can be uncertain sometimes. We may look unstable sometimes. But even though we may shake in high winds, we're not going anywhere, because our roots are holding fast to THE rock, Jesus Christ. We will still bear our fruit in its season. Our leaves will not wither. We may look like we're failing, and yet we will prosper.

Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Don't surrender to the devil's lies. Just because life feels unstable doesn't mean that it is.

Certainly, if your life really is unstable, if you've not yet embraced that solid rock and committed yourself to stand on the word of the Lord, you should do that.

But if you've already done so, then don't listen to the condemnation. Hold on to Abba's hand and listen to his word. And as long as you keep your roots in the right place, you're going nowhere.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frain, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.