Thrive: Like a Tree Planted by Streams of Water

Welcome to the Thrive in Ministry blog! My wife, Jeni, and I want to welcome you here as we will discuss what we think is a hugely important need in the life of every pastor, ministry leader, and their wives - how to thrive. If you long to see your marriage, your children, your church (or other ministry) grow and flourish, this is for you. And if you feel like you are floundering right now, then we want you to know this is ESPECIALLY for you!

Psalm 1 is a fitting introduction to the idea of thriving in ministry, just as it is also called by Matthew Henry an introduction or "preface" to the entire collection of the psalms. He says it directs us how to "be right in our notions of blessedness." This is what everyone needs; and ministry leaders and their wives need it especially. They need to know how to be right in their notions of blessedness in their marriage, family, and ministry.

God placed in this psalm a very appealing picture that He wants you to have imprinted on your mind. It's a picture that many in ministry do not have of themselves and may think is not even possible. It's in verse 3: "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

This tree is a perfect picture of thriving. It is planted in the perfect spot, beside the streams with plenty of water. It bears fruit exactly as it was designed to do. Its leaves aren't withering away but are green and flourishing. In every way it is prospering. And get this…this picture is not about a tree. It is a person. This is eye-opening. This is about you!

Just think. God put this in the text because He wants you to have this perfect picture of thriving in your mind. But do you? Is this the picture in your mind of what is happening to you right now? Often a very different picture is there, a picture that is anything but abundance and growth and beauty. And there are plenty of reasons for that: feelings of disappointment in marriage, in your parenting, in your child's failures, in the place where you are in life, in your struggles with sin, worry, and discouragement. Ministry is difficult. Conflicts threaten relationships, hurdles obstruct progress, sinful failures break trust. And more.

God knows your struggles and because of them, He put in Psalm 1 this picture of the thriving tree, for you to see it, for you to long for it, for you to be assured of it. I think this is a profound observation - God wants His people to thrive. And He wants them to know that He wants them to thrive. Let me say that again: God wants you to know that you are this thriving tree, flourishing right where you have been planted.

In our 25+ years of church planting and pastoral ministry, while raising our three children, my wife and I have gone through times when we were hopeful, joyful, and encouraged about where we were in life. But we also had times when we did not feel that way. Yet in those difficult times God was faithful in His providence always to remind us of His goodness, giving us hope to continue on. Very often it was something right there in the text of Scripture where God's word spoke hope to our souls.

That is exactly what Psalm 1 is doing: it speaks hope to your soul. That is what the picture of the flourishing tree says to you. It says God wants you to flourish like that tree and He will give you all that is needed to make you flourish. He will give it to you through His word as you delight in it and meditate on it day and night (more about that in future posts). That hope for your soul can begin stirring as you delight in and meditate on this first of the Psalms.

I like Paul Tripp's thoughts on it. He says, "I don’t know if you have ever thought about this, but God is really committed to the thriving of the creatures that he’s made in his image." In his own words he imagines how God is speaking to us in Psalm 1. It's as if God is saying, “You come to me. You meditate in my Word. You listen to my counsel. I want you to thrive.”

Here are two suggestions I would like to offer for you to do with Psalm 1, which I hope will cause God's grace to stir in your mind and soul, moving you toward greater thriving.

• Memorize this psalm. It's short, only six verses. Go over it repeatedly three or four times each day, starting the moment you turn off your alarm clock in the morning. Dwell on those words; let them soak into your mind.

• Then turn these words into your heart's prayer to God, especially verse 3. Say to God, "By faith, I believe that You are making me flourish more and more like this tree as I delight in Your word. I believe You are making me like this even though right now it does not seem like it is true. I believe it is true."

May you find His word filling your soul with delight each day more and more. And may He cause you to thrive.