While out for a leisurely stroll with my wife, we came upon an area of trees whereby their root systems were fully exposed and crisscrossing every which way. If not careful, it would be easy to get your feet snagged and embarrassingly wind up on your bottom with a slightly bruised ego. It’s no secret that if a tree’s roots, or any plant for that matter, do not go deep enough into the ground, they won’t provide the nutrients required for healthy growth above ground, notwithstanding the need for sufficient water, good soil, and sunshine.
The Bible talks about the importance of growing deep roots of faith in Jesus Christ—comparing a strong faith to a well-rooted tree or plant. Without that, our faith may struggle, especially when difficulties come at us, and we may not be trusting God the way we should. Faith, like roots, provides sustenance and provides us with a firm foundation as we go through each day and its legion of challenges.
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7, 8 NLT)
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6, 7, 8 NLT)
Every spring I plant a small vegetable garden. Nothing fancy, but it does yield a modest crop of fresh produce in the late summer and early fall. This past year, my green beans, for whatever reason, did not root very well into the soil, the result being little yield and unhealthy plants. Even though I watered a lot, and my soil was good, they were spindly and remained small. I typically add vegetable fertilizer when I water, but I confess that out of laziness, my nutritional additives were sometimes lacking. The same can be said for not feeding my soul with the word of God.
When I look at my own faith journey, I realize that when my faith is coming up short and my relationship with God is not where I would like it to be, I really have no one to blame but myself. If I am not reading my Bible and seeking out the Lord daily, my faith roots are going to be shallow, and they won’t produce fruit in my life. My faith cannot blossom into something beautiful if I am not grounded in Christ and His truth.
So, let me ask you this. How deep are your roots in Jesus?
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 NLT)
It’s far easier to withstand the storms of life when your roots in Jesus Christ run deep.
Paul Smyth
