When I go on my hikes in the Hualapai Mountains, I notice various types of trees, from the tiny charlie brown type Christmas tree to the huge pine trees. Most of these trees seemed to have weathered the storm regardless of the condition they are in. Although they have been battered by the wind and rain, they still remain to stand even if it’s just the trunk.
Roots require three things: water, oxygen, and soil compaction levels low enough to allow root penetration. If all these conditions are met, roots can grow to great depths. The trees that I observed met these conditions and are still standing strong in the ground. Some have roots so deep that they spread across the trail and I wouldhave to be careful not to trip over them.
As I reflect on these tree roots, it reminds me of the roots of my relationship with Christ Jesus and how deep these roots are planted. In Jeremiah 17:8, it reads “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.”
This water that the trees need is continuous and comes from the stream. This scripture reiterates that I am to be planted by streams of water as well so that my roots can continuously grow. This water is symbolic of the Holy Spirit which the Bible says in John 7:38 will flow like rivers of living water. So it is up to us to sink our own roots deep into a relationship with Christ, and then to water and enrich those roots with the word of God so that we grow and blossom in the Lord.
If trees don’t receive this consistent supply of water, they will wither away and die. Its leaves dry and turn brown and the trunk soon loses its color. The leaves fall and blow away with the slightest breeze.
The same thing will happen to us if we don’t continuously water ourselves with the word of God and feast at his table daily. If we do this, when the storms come (and they will) we will be able to bear up under the winds of turmoil in our lives. I know for me I just received a diagnosis of breast cancer and I noticed that if I wasn’t rooted in the word of God when I received this news, I would have been blown over quickly however, I am continuing to stand and will dive deeper into the word so that I can have the strength to stand through this trial. It is imperative that I encourage myself in the word, pray the word and remind God of his promises and most of all continue to give him the praise for this trial and everything that will come with it during this time in my life.
How about you? Have you thought about how deep your roots are planted? Are you a surface Christian? Do you barely pick up your Bible or do you take the time to study and meditate on the word of God?
These are some important questions to ponder and decide what your response will be so that you can prepare yourself to stand under any trial that the enemy willbring your way.
My challenge for you is to encourage you to grow deep roots in the word of God and allow the water of the word to wash you daily. In Psalm 119:105, the scripture tells us that “the word is a lamp for my feet, and a light on my path.” So let this be a reminder to use the word as a guide in your life for every decision you need to make regarding which path to take.
Father God we pray for each woman reading this blog to have a deeper desire and a hunger for your word. We pray that as they reflect on your creation and how you made the trees and how deep those roots go, we pray that our own roots will sink deep down into your word and we will have the strength and stability we need to go through any trial you bring our way. We pray for listening ears to hear what you are saying to us during the hard trials that will come our way and we pray that we will learn whatever it is you are teaching us through these trials and we pray this in the name of Jesus! Amen!
Scriptures for further study: Psalm 1, John 7:37-39, Romans 8:28&37, Psalm 119:15-16, Hebrews 4:12, Joshua 1:8, Ephesians 6:17, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Tim. 2:15
Grow Anyway 