The Nourishment You Need

By Javan Shashaty

Let’s try a little exercise: Picture in your mind a vibrant and healthy tree. You’re probably seeing a large tree filled with all kinds of green leaves. Now, imagine that same tree, but it has been planted in the desert for four years. Did the health of the tree change in your mind? Did the image of the tree become dry, withered, and frail? If you’re like me, the tree in your head just went from Hawaiian paradise to Saharan wasteland. Why? Because the environment where the tree is planted determines its health. Trees need water in order to get nourishment. And the same is true in your life.

In Psalm 1, the writer describes a tree that is planted by rivers of water. It flourishes and produces fruit. That tree has been firmly planted by its source of nourishment and it is constantly being filled. In our lives, God’s Word is our source of nourishment. It teaches us, comforts us, encourages us, and builds us up. It also convicts us, challenges us, and pushes us to grow. James says that God’s Word is like a mirror. It reveals to us who we really are! It shows us our sinful and broken condition before God. But then, it reveals to us the incredible goodness of that same God, who sent Jesus to redeem us. This revelation is nourishment to our souls, and we need this nourishment every day!

In this next season of your life, there will be times where you feel like you are walking in a desert. You will feel empty and dry. You will feel discouraged and beat down. You will feel dissatisfied by the world around you. Remember that the nourishment and refreshment you’re looking for can be found only in the Word of God! When you’re awake late at night in your room thinking about life, open up your Bible! Don’t look to the things the world offers you because I promise that whatever happiness it offers will be over before it ever really began, and will leave you emptier and drier than before! Look to Jesus and the truth of His Word; He is the water that your soul needs. Plant your tree by the river of God’s Word and you will never run dry.