Transformed – teen devotion – February 13, 2022
One truth shared: The wisdom of the world is turned upside down, and the one we are to trust is uncovered.
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.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Uncovered Blessings
It is all upside down.
We show up at school, and they try to make us smarter and give us more wisdom. They tell us that this will ensure our success in the future. “Just graduate from high school,” they say. “Just get a degree,” they tell us. “That’s the way to success.”
We’re told to surround ourselves with good counselors and advisors. We’re told to seek out trustworthy people to put in our corner. We’re encouraged to save up as much as we can for our financial future, have a strong security plan, and so on. We must make ourselves safe and sound.
That’s what we’re told by the people around us. But then God’s says something rather upside down. He tells us that it’s no good to trust in people or to draw our strength in flesh and blood. He says that this is the sure way to ensure we will not see prosperity.
Truth is, there’s nothing wrong with wisdom and learning, but we can’t count on it to protect us. There is nothing wrong with making good plans for our future, but those things dare not be our security. To lean on these things as if they were the ultimate thing is only to set us up for a downfall.
That’s why Jeremiah turns the tables for us so that we know where to find our blessing. He shows us that only when we trust in our God can we be sure that we will never face a downfall. Only when we trust in him are we rooted and grounded. Only when we trust in him are worries erased.
He is our Rock. He is our Savior. He is immovable. He assures us that when we trust in him, we cannot and will not lose. In him, all things are right again.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for turning my attention to you. You are my Rock. You are my Savior. You are immovable. Help me to turn to and trust in you above all other things. Amen.
