May Your Roots Grow Stronger

May Your Roots Grow Stronger

I love porches and outdoor designs. As I was searching for an idea on how to incorporate some design elements with our deck and back yard, I came across a photo of a bridge made of what looked like tree limbs. As I read the caption I was amazed. “In India there are 500 year old bridges weaved from living roots that can withstand the monsoon floods and don’t ever rot. Instead they grow stronger with time.”

God spoke to my heart: He wants us to know that when we are living in Christ our roots will withstand the monsoons that come our way and they will not rot but instead grow stronger with time. We are not strengthened in ease or comfort. We are strengthened in growth and that includes trials, storms, hardships, and places we don’t even know about.  The exercising of our faith produces strength no matter what weakness we have in the flesh. In fact, His strength is shown greatest in our weaknesses. 

 We do not fear either flood or drought for we are watered, tended and cared for by God Himself. Christ intercedes for our every need and has made the way for us to live strong, sturdy and useful lives as we put our lives in His hands. Our usefulness will not cease as we grow older, for just as the root bridges are in use even at 500 years of age, so we can have strength of spirit and be fruitful for the Kingdom all the days of our lives.

Oh beloved, God desires to strengthen your roots! He has a plan to take you beyond yourself. This growth He desires is beneficial for your life. It is absolutely impossible to grow without being watered by the Spirit of God as He shows you the way to stronger life in Christ. While you may not have asked to be stronger, it is God’s plan that each of His believers is strengthened in the inner person, so that you will stay strong and not weaken. It is also so that you will be a bridge of Christ to others needing to know the way as well.  It’s time to quit fearing the future because that future is your bridge to stronger faith in Christ. No need to hide from anything for you are hidden in Christ and your roots are going to grow stronger and stronger as you live in the light of His Word. Even as you face things that look insurmountable in the natural, you are being strengthened and built up in your most holy faith.

God loves you and He’s for you. Trust Him today and look to the Lord when anything surprises you or comes against you. May your roots grow stronger as you lean on Him and grow in grace and knowledge all the days of your life.

John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’

Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

Jeremiah 17:8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.

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. NLT

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 Uprooted? Stay Rooted in Christ!

Quite a few years ago my boss brought a plant to his office. It was one from his grandmother’s funeral. All these years he’s had that plant in his office. A couple of years ago he decided to divide it as the plant was getting huge! These divided plants were repotted and set in various offices including one in mine.  Slowly these plants began to show signs of stress. Leaves were blackening and some of the transplants were not even growing.  He decided to take the sick plants out of the soil and see what he could find.  To our surprise some of them had very few roots, others had huge tubers instead of healthy roots. To the ones that had little roots, He gently tugged them from the soil, dug his hands into the container and moved the soil around and got it loosened. Then he returned those plants to the soil. To the ones who had huge tubers he scraped the sides of those “knots” and made a way for better roots to grow. One held such a huge tuber that he cut that one in half.  All were placed back in the pots and watered well. 

Without the care of a gardener those plants would have continued their decline and eventually shriveled up and died. Without someone going to their aid, for they could not fix themselves, the end was inevitable. They would have been thrown onto the compost pile. But by the hand of the gardener they will now thrive and grow and produce more than they ever have. 

God speaks to my heart: Oh child of Mine. I know you feel that your life has been pulled up by the roots.  You were content with your surroundings; you were fine with your place. It all looked so good. Yes, there were little problems here and there but you saw yourself as sitting pretty. But you see, my beloved one, I want you to flourish.  I want your roots to grow deeper and your life to grow stronger. I want your heart to be readjusted as often as needed so that you see My purpose beyond your conditions.  You can trust Me, even when things seem to crumble away from you, even when the earth beneath you seems to give way.  You can quit struggling within yourself with those around you because I AM the one who holds you securely and sets you just where I want you. Do not despair for  only I AM the one who moves you, changes you, blesses you and encourages you.  I AM your gardener and My ways are not your ways, but you can rejoice in the changes for they will turn out for your betterment and My glory. And as I tend the garden of your heart, I want you to let your roots grow deeper in Me for that is how your life will truly flourish and you will display all My glory through your life.

Oh beloved, trust God! Let His Truth grow in your heart so that your roots will grow in Him. You can rest in God’s loving hands. He alone is sovereign. He alone is king. He alone is able to readjust your life and even in the pain He alone will make it all good for He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

Hebrews 13:21 may He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.

Psalm 92:12 -14 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.  For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit;  they will remain vital and green.

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.