The man who meditates on Scripture day and night will like a tree planted by the rivers of water “…whose leaf does not wither.” Psalm 1:3c
[No matter what happens around this tree, it remains green—in drought, dryness, winds, dust storms or disasters, failure of the seasons, failure of other streams–this tree , this man, always has water to draw from, for its roots are deep down into the true source of vitality and strength, the Word of God.
Whatever trying events come to us—weakness, hardship, insults, persecution, difficulties, or loss—we can remain lush and green, bear our fruit, and be a delight to those around us.
I have seen this true in my own life, living in a Middle Eastern country where at one point a cascade of disasters flowed into my life. I arrested for my faith several times, spent time in jail, was fired from my job, kicked out of our meeting place, abandoned by my team, threatened expulsion from our apartment, put on trial with the prosecutor wanting 7 years in jail for me and others.
In all this I kept meditating on the Word, remembering truth, replacing fear with faith, processing stress through the Word.
The outcome: moving through with God’s strength, ending up with no PTSD, no depression, no need for counseling, no need to abandon my post to recover.
This is all because of you, Lord, for you gave us your Word and draw us into it. And this is what I am experiencing again right now as my wife goes through a very difficult time—I am not withering up but remaining green and bearing fruit because you are empowering me to do so as I meditate on your Word.
Epilogue: in the end of my trial I was acquitted along with others and this brought a great freedom to share the gospel in this country for the next 10 years. God had a plan; we just had to join him in it.
