“They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.” Psalm 1:3

God likes to use metaphors and similes to describe the spiritual life. The Psalmist tells us we’re like a fruit-bearing tree.

Mostly, the tree’s roots are hidden underground, and we don’t see them looking for water. Likewise, our spiritual lives have roots that aren’t obvious, but they are watered by God’s Spirit as we connect with him. In this Psalm, the focus is on connecting with God by meditating on his Word, but there are other ways - through prayer, through meeting with his people, through listening to hymns and spiritual songs. 

The tree is planted. This is a purposeful act, not a casual sprinkling of seeds. God has transferred us from the kingdom of darkness and planted us in his kingdom. This is a deliberate act of God that happens when we choose to put our faith in him. It speaks of the security of knowing God is intentional about his purposes in our lives. He intends for us to grow spiritually strong and to be productive (Titus 3:14). No one plants a seed or seedling expecting a tree the next day. It’s a long-term project. Likewise, God has long-term plans to bring us to maturity.

Trees bear fruit each season; they aren’t continuously busy producing fruit but have periods of preparation, rest and growing fruit to maturity. Likewise for us, there are times of spiritual growth, times of preparation and times of rest and restoration. Sometimes we would like to skip some seasons. Perhaps we don’t enjoy seasons of waiting or resting, as we prefer to be producing. But spiritual fruit, like natural fruit, is produced in seasons.