We must cultivate deep spiritual roots. ‘Blessed are those who trust in the LORD…They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit’ (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT). This Scripture gives us one reason why we need deep spiritual roots: to make it through the rough times – times of heat and drought. Solomon said, ‘No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted’ (Proverbs 12:3 NIV). It’s when seasons of adversity hit our lives that we discover what we're ‘rooted’ to: God’s strength or just our own. When the Bible talks about ‘heat’, it's talking about the pressures of life. When it talks about ‘drought’, it’s talking about seasons of crisis and lack. We need ‘Roots that reach deep into the water,’ because ‘They never stop producing fruit.’ Because of their roots, the giant redwoods of Northern California can withstand the big forest fires. The roots of large trees can spread up to five times the width of the tree’s leafy canopy. That’s why they’re stable in the storms and droughts. Paul wrote this: ‘I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 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…you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God’ (Ephesians 3:16-17, 19 NLT).

What Now?

Draw a quick sketch of a tree with lots of deep, long roots. On each root, write a Bible verse that reminds you of God’s strength and love.