January Devotional

Where You Are Planted

Scripture: “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

Life can feel uncertain, and sometimes we long to be somewhere “better”—a different job, a different town, or a different season. But Jeremiah reminds us that blessing doesn’t come from perfect circumstances; it comes from trusting God and rooting ourselves where we are. Like a tree planted by a stream, we grow strong, flourish, and bear fruit when we draw life from God, even in places that feel ordinary or challenging.

Illustration:

Think of a tree in a city park. Its roots wind around concrete, yet it still grows tall and bears fruit. It adapts, stretches, and leans into the water it can find. In the same way, God calls us to grow where we are planted—not waiting for ideal conditions, but trusting Him to nourish us. Even in “hard soil,” His presence can sustain and transform us.

Reflection:

Where you are planted right now—your home, your workplace, your community—is where God wants to grow something in you. It might be patience, kindness, courage, or faithfulness. Instead of wishing to be somewhere else, ask God: “How can I grow here? How can I bear fruit in this place?”

Practice: Ask God: “How can I grow here?”

• Look at your daily routines and relationships.
• Identify one small way to invest in your “soil”—your current situation.
• Pray for strength, insight, and perseverance to flourish where God has planted you.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to trust You where I am planted. Show me how to grow, to bear fruit, and to thrive even when life feels challenging or ordinary. May my roots go deep in Your love, and may my life bring blessing to those around me. Amen.

Thought for the Day:

Growth doesn’t always happen where we expect it. It happens where God has planted us—and with Him as our stream, there is always life, resilience, and fruitfulness.