The Deeply Rooted Life
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My childhood home sat on a man-made lake bordered by large trees on one side. My friends and I loved to sneak around the corner, climb up high in the heavy branches, and peer through the cascading leaves down to the deep blue water. That tree-lined corner of our world provided shade and shelter, and we loved to explore its depths.
I grew up in the land of hurricanes and storm shutters, so one dark summer night, the wind and rain lashed down unmercifully as we sat in our homes huddled around a battery-operated radio waiting for the storm to pass. After what seemed like an eternity, the sun peeked out through the clouds, and my parents opened up the door to the outside once again. Only a day or two had passed, but I’d learned so much through the experience that I felt older and wiser. Around my home, evidence of the storm continued my education. Pieces of debris, downed power lines, and broken branches littered the street. I inched carefully along the sidewalk around the corner to my favorite spot and discovered my tree hangout sat relatively unscathed. The relentless wind tried to topple the giant beauties, but they still pointed up to the sky and displayed the glory of God. The roots of steal broke through one portion of the sidewalk, but still remained firmly positioned.
As I read Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae, I think about how the trees of my childhood picture a life of faith. When our hearts and minds are deeply rooted in the Word, the storms of this world cannot unsettle us. The challenge is to stay connected to our source of strength. As we tap into the water of life, we continue to flourish, and our branches extend out to others in response. With overflowing gratitude, we seek to provide shelter and shade for others.
Paul’s life pictures the deeply-rooted life perfectly. In I Thessalonians, we see how he continued to grow in relationship to Christ, and out of thanksgiving and love, he prayed for the saints to continue to persevere in faith.
Today, you will cross paths with someone whose life has been unmercifully broken by the storms of life. Will thanksgiving overflow from your heart and point them to God’s shelter and shade? May our deeply-rooted lives stand strong and display His glory to a world that’s watching.
Let’s Talk: How do you stay deeply rooted to Christ? Does your life provide shelter and shade to others?
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“Deeply Rooted Lives” was originally published at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale’s Daily Devo.
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I am sharing “The Deeply-Rooted Life” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace, Let us Grow, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Fresh Market Friday, Blessing Counters, Grace Moments, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Three-Word Wednesday, Intentional Tuesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Testimony Tuesday, Moments of Hope, and Sharing His Beauty.
Prayer is vital to staying deeply rooted to Christ. I have conversations with God all day and night. I know He is listening and He loves me.
Yes, Melissa. What a gift to know that we can speak directly to His heart! He is so good to us.
i love that passage and everything about deep roots. (got a little talk on that…) – thanks for the reminder to dig in and stay close for the sake of those around me who need shelter. blessings. s.
It’s such a great passage, right? I really love the whole book of Colossians.
“When our hearts and minds are deeply rooted in the Word, the storms of this world cannot unsettle us. The challenge is to stay connected to our source of strength.” Lyli, this is so very true. I have been able to weather many storms because my life is rooted in Christ. Reading the Bible and praying help me and just seeing how God has worked throughout my life builds upon my foundation in Him. Thank you for this encouraging post. I will cross paths with someone today who is weathering a painful and unexpected storm. I pray that God will use me to show His love and comfort, and that she will be encouraged. Love and blessings to you, sweet Lyli!
I saw this quote on a decorative sign recently: “When we are deeply rooted we can move freely.” I can picture branches moving and swaying in the storms of life but not worried about being destroyed by the winds. I love that you’ve brought out another blessing of being deeply rooted–the ability to help and encourage others with the shade of God’s heart and the strength of His presence. I’m going to share your post on our Planting Roots ministry FB page at 4pm today.(https://www.facebook.com/strength2thrive/publishing_tools/?section=scheduled_posts&refSource=scheduled_timeline_pagelet). Blessings!
Love this. I just told someone a few weeks ago that with all the changes in my life I long for something I can root down into. A few hours later I realized, I already have that…no matter what changes come along, no matter how crazy the winds rage around me, I have God to root into. Thank you for this post!
Your words ring true for me this day, Lyli. I want to be deeply rooted so that I can receive the nutrients I need from the Lord with each watering of His Word. Thanks for your faithfulness to us each Thursday.
i love the image of a tree for spirituality and being deeply rooted,nourished from deep within, steady in times of storms – all follow your words here. Thanks for the wonderful reflection!
Hi Lyli,
I pray my life provides shade and shelter to those in need! Staying rooted takes intention. It’s so easy to let busyness slowly eat away at the practices that do keep me grounded, though! Thank you so much for sharing this hope with me at #MomentsofHope! You are such a blessing!
Yes, being “deeply rooted in the Word” keeps us “connected to our source of strength”! Roots that go down deep and drink deeply of the Water of Life! That’s the only way to flourish in our faith.
This is beautiful encouragement to my heart today. I’ve been tossed by so many storms of late. It’s hard to stay centered and focused at times. But I’m fixing my eyes on Him.
“Today, you will cross paths with someone whose life has been unmercifully broken by the storms of life.” What an important reminder, Lyli! Thank you so much for this wonderful encouragement! Blessings!
Lyli,
I love the imagery of the storm and faith, there are so many ways we can see His hand in our lives when we simply look at all around us. When I think of the word, “rooted”, it makes me also think of the word abide. If we abide in Him, rooted to the vine of truth, we are provided for in all our needs. We are tethered to the only source of life and protected by the strength of the vine.
I always enjoy the lessons you share. Thanks for linking up at #GraceMoments Link up!
Blessings,
Dawn
Goodness, I can’t imagine living in an area where hurricanes are a part of life—but I’m sure you learned much from your experiences! Being deeply rooted in the Word, in constant communication with the Father, and able to dig into that deeply when storms arise—is priceless. And you’re right, others will look on and observe and question the source of our Shelter. Thanks so much for sharing—stopping by from #FaithFilledFriday 🙂