Today’s Post Written By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
I dropped my friend off at her house after spending the day together, but as I began backing out of her driveway, I noticed something strange out of the corner of my eye—a huge oak tree uprooted, lying on its side. I beeped my horn to alert my friend.
We quickly determined that a summer storm must have rolled through the neighborhood while we were gone; but strangely, other than a few scattered tree limbs and leaves dotting the ground, the large oak appeared to be the only casualty.
The next day when a tree cutting service came to remove the fallen relic, my friend asked the specialist why this tree had been only one affected by the storm. His answer was surprising. He explained that because of the elevation of the land, the tree had a constant source of water. The oak never had to develop deep, strong roots because water was easily accessed near the surface. The bundle of roots pulled up from the ground was the extent of the root system for the entire tree. He said it was only a matter of time before a good, strong wind was able to blow it over.
The condition of my friend’s tree warrants reflection. Are we developing strong spiritual roots or are we simply gathering what we can near the surface by attending Sunday worship services or listening to Christian music? It’s amazing what we can learn through the simple analogy of a tree.
In order for a seed to mature into a tree, it must first grow roots. Tiny fibers sprout from the seed and descend into the soil where they can access essential nutrients and life-giving water. As the sapling grows above the ground, the roots below must also expand in proportion. Roots act as an underground storage tank to aid the tree whenever water is scarce. Although most roots are unseen, they are invaluable to a tree’s ability to thrive.
The same is true for Christians. Our spiritual roots provide stability, enabling us to grow, mature, and eventually become beautiful displays of God’s splendor.
“…They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”(Isaiah 61:3b)
If we want a strong spiritual root system, we need to dig deep. We need to spend quality time with God, drawing deep from the well spring of life each and every day by meditating on His Word, spending quality time in prayer, and living out His truths in all areas of our lives. In this way we will develop a strong root system that plants us firmly into solid ground.
“[The cedar] was majestic in beauty, with its spreading boughs, for its roots went down to abundant waters.” (Ezekiel 31:7)
Developing strong spiritual roots today, better prepares us to withstand the storms of life tomorrow.