Jeremiah 17:5-10 – “Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord.  ⁶ “For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.  ⁷ “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.  ⁸ “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.  ⁹ “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?  ¹⁰ “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, several things got my attention.  We often overlook the subtle and seemingly small things.

In Jeremiah 17:5-10, three things are listed that affect our lives continuously. In verse 5, we discover that there is a curse for relying on human ability.  It is interesting because we have to use human ability and talent to live and function.  Therefore, this cannot be talking about using our humanness, abilities, gifts, talent, and training.   It refers to elevating the ability to a God status in our lives. It is making our ability our source.

Next, there is a blessing for putting complete trust in God and His guidance and gifting.  Paul advised that we have nothing we have not received as a gift. All we have and all we are is rooted in God.  He must be our all.

Third, there is a revelation of the untrustworthiness and unreliability of the heart.   Jeremiah 17:9 warns that it is stubborn and impossible to understand. In verse 10, we discover that God searches our untrustworthy hearts and places constraints on us to guide us into the right paths. That implies surrendering to Him.

A fourth revelation is the Law of Sowing and Reaping.   In verse 10, we read that God gives to each person according to their ways (lifestyle) and the fruit of their doings (daily activities). That includes the good and the bad.

How do we trust God and hope in Him effectively?  We find a clue in Acts. Everywhere you turn, you see that the surrendered heart is a heart that is saturated with the Holy Spirit.  He filled them, led them, protected them, taught them, and talked to them.  He kept them in communion with God and conscious of the provision and person of Jesus.  He enabled them to trust God while using their abilities. He made their abilities effective and their timing perfect.

We can’t, but God can! Trust Him!

LORD, help us to pay attention to the Small Things that are Big!