Jeremiah 17:7-8 says –
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD… 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… its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.”
God directed me to a strange word as my theme of 2021, rooted. I began this year studying the structures of root systems in trees and discovered amazing truths about God’s creation. To summarize, trees with solid root systems will be able to sustain life in every season, whether abundant with rain or in a drought. There are lateral roots- those that expand outward slightly below the surface and absorb minerals and water. There are tap roots- those that extend deep down below the hard plain of the earth and keep the tree from falling. Those deep roots are life-giving. When necessary, tap roots can access water not only for the single tree, but for its friends. In a forest, all the root systems of the trees are connected.
Enough about tree biology. While I’m not claiming expertise as a botanist, this year I have become aware of the truth that Jeremiah wrote about thousands of years ago. If our root system is planted in our trust in the LORD, we are able to endure extreme hardship and challenge. Every year will not be a drought, nor will every year be a year of heavy rainfall.
If you’ve ever seen a tree cut down, you know that there are circles in the trunk. Those circles tell a story about the years the tree lived and the amount of water available to it. The stories of our lives will reveal years of overflow and years of lack, but if we allow the roots (our faith) to grow deeper and wider, if we borrow and give the nourishment of our testimonies of God’s goodness to those around us, we will not only survive, we will bear fruit.
Do you have a testimony that you should share publicly or privately with a friend? Are you actively seeking the water of the Word to replenish your faith when your situation looks dry and dire? We need you to stay rooted in your faith. Your life is part of our extended root system – reach out, go deep. We need you to keep growing.
~Joy Howard
Christ Fellowship