Your Roots Grow Strong When You're on the Rock

As the leaves begin to change colors and fall from the trees, the cragginess of the local mountains is exposed. Much of what we see is almost pure rock. I am amazed at how a tree can grow in such rocky conditions. Its roots are often exposed and there seems to be no visible soil to give it sustenance to grow. Yet grow it does. The roots extend out over chasms and appear from under jutting boulders.... There’s not much outward difference in the upper part of the tree as the leaves grow and fruit and nuts are produced, even on the evergreens as they produce their seed cones. You have to wonder if the seed from a tree growing in these conditions makes for stronger progeny.

What we don’t see is that the tree has found energy to thrive somewhere between the crags. The strength of the tree is not found in the branches but rather in the roots. The tenaciousness of the will to live is seen in a tree. It does not consider the stark conditions of its life but hangs on to life itself. Not only does it hang on, it thrives. It becomes an oasis as birds and animals alike find rest in the boughs. While trees in the valley are often taken down by the winds and storms, the trees whose roots are twined through the rocks hold fast, no matter the conditions.

God speaks to our hearts: Precious child – many times in your life you have found yourself in the starkest of conditions. Nothing but rocks of trouble, boulders of trials, crevices of hardship abound all around you. You feel as you have nothing to hold onto, nothing to cling to and nowhere to live. It is then that you can find your greatest growth. For where you find nothing, you find Me. I AM enough. I AM your portion for living water and good soil. Cling not to the circumstances of your life. But rather cling to Me. I will keep you secure from the dangers of unbelief. I will give you growth even in these hard times; I will give you hope and purpose to put your roots down deeper and make them stronger. You are beloved to me and not a single thing in your life is wasted. While the valleys may feel like they are where your abundance is, it is in the high mountains that you find Me the strongest on your behalf. In the storms of life you will remain strong for your roots are grown around the Rock. Not only will I keep you and cause you to thrive, but your testimony and your stamina will be a source of comfort and strength to others as they observe you hanging tightly to Me.

Oh beloved, cling to the Lord! Put your roots down strong into the Word of God. Look to the Name of the Lord for your reason to live. God loves you right where you are and He’s never going to let you lose your footing as long as you cling to Him alone!

Colossians 2:7 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.

2 Peter 3:18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to Him, both now and forever! Amen.

Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.

Ephesians 3:17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

Feeling Weighed Down? Give Your Cares to Him!

My children always loved collecting rocks from the area we vacationed. Every once in a while I’ll find a small pebble or a couple of rocks in a box. There’s a big collection that our son saved in a box out in the shop and it is heavy.  I guess you could call them memory stones.  I was cleaning out my car last week and found another rock – it looks like the grandkids now want to collect them. 

We gather memory rocks don’t we? Not all the stones are from pleasant places.  Some are picked up along with hurts, discouragement or sorrow.  Some are thrown at us.  We catch each one and keep them so that we don’t forget who hurt us.  The  unkind word, the impatient response, the indifferent or ignoring disregard from those we trusted.  We go home and empty our pockets of the stones and think we’re done with it.  We place them away in the closet of our heart. But let another hurtful word or an unkind gesture come our way and out comes our collection. We add to and look it all over and it becomes oh so heavy.

We cannot avoid hurts. We cannot control how others treat us, how we might be ignored or undervalued or overlooked.  We may want the best in a relationship and yet the other party wants nothing to do with us. People walk away, lie about your life and wipe their hands of us. If we gather each hurtful or hard memory up in a collection, pretty soon we’re harboring a heavy load.  We could become so enthralled with our collection that’s all we concentrate on.

But if we give those stones of remembrance to the Lord and ask Him to help us, He will lessen the hurt and take our burden from us. We were never meant to carry this load. It’s heavy and weighs us down. If unchecked, it will actually sideline us and keep us from moving forward.  God in His mercy will turn that pile of hurts, disappointments, unforgiveness, or rejection into an altar of love. If we turn those stones over in our hearts and give them to Him, the burden will be lifted as we forgive and move on. Our hearts feel better, our load is lighter and we’re filled with His mercy to go higher with Him.

Oh beloved, God loves you! He has a wonderful plan for you life! He says to discard the rocks and follow Him! His plan is oh so sweet and His desire is oh so outrageous for you! He will carry you higher than you’ve ever been and the view from the heights of His mercy and love is beautiful! Run to Him this morning and show Him your burdens, share the truth about each memory stone and let Him heal your hurts!  He loves you so much that He will discard them for you and walk with you all the days of your life! Hurts may still come, but you won’t have to load yourself down for God walks before you and His angels surround you. What an amazing Savior!

Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

I Peter 5:7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.