Rooted to Grow

The hard circumstances that have been present for so long assail me again, as once more a decision needs to be made. Hardship that impacts me leaves me feeling raw and vulnerable and reeling from their impact.

My heart wrestles with fear, again, even as I lean toward Jesus, the One who has been faithful to lead and to love well.

Then my mind travels to a scene I see repeated as I walk among the nature that God has created - growth, beauty - right in the middle of hard places. Rocks, stoney ground, hard packed soil that doesn’t keep growth from happening.

When I want to be out of a hard situation and when I want God to remove either me from the situation or the situation from me, I think of these scenes.

What allows or causes a plant to grow and bloom? How can it prosper when the conditions are less than good or the best?

When I go to plant my flowers in the springtime season, I will tend to the soil, giving it the best possible chance to grow and bloom. So, seeing such beauty among rocks, catches me.

Somewhere this plant is rooted in something I can’t see that is life-giving. Its root system matters. And I remember mine matters too.

Ephesians 3:17-19 says, “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.”

If a plant can grow and bloom on a rock, could I, just maybe be right where God wants me to grow and bloom among the hardship where I find myself?

When I would rather have the situation taken away, does God want to infuse me with His power and strength so I can grow right in the midst of what I would rather not be in?

How do I grow? What does that look like?

Jesus grew. He kept increasing in wisdom and stature. (Luke 2:52)

Jesus cares about my growth in understanding who He is. He desires me to know Him and to learn of Him. Matthew 11:29 tells us that when we learn of Him we will find rest for our souls. It’s not saying rest from my circumstances, but rest for my soul.

Within the pages of God’s word, He tells us many things that are so opposite of what I as a human would think should work to produce life. Many times the disciples and people that lived in the days of Jesus found that to be the same; opposite of what they wanted. They desired to be rescued from the harsh Roman rule. They expected their Saviour to deliver them in physical and conquering ways.  

Jesus’ way of life and to life was opposite to the way they thought would be life-giving and freedom and so it is for me, too.

He came to free us in our souls from tyranny, bondage, and hardships. 

Love your enemies. Pray for them.

Go the second mile.

Romans 12:9-21 lists many opposites of what I would like to do, such as, love without hypocrisy, bless those who persecute you, never take your own revenge, if your enemy is hungry - feed him, and so on.

Return good for evil. 

Forgive, releasing the desire for revenge to God.

The list goes on.

Freedom and growth that is so opposite to our human way of thinking. 

Growth, blooming, and learning the way of God causes my heart to wrestle, to draw back as I think of very hard circumstances that make my heart cringe. This does not come naturally for me. Fear and anxiety come swiftly as painful memories rise to the surface wanting to snuff out life.

I see a theme emerging, the root system matters more than conditions. Somewhere there was a spot of healthy soil that allowed growth. I start to open up to the possibilities that lie within the not-so-desired circumstances that surround me. Just like those plants that thrive amidst the stones and hard packed soil, I too, can grow, bloom, and thrive when Jesus’ love takes root in my heart.

That is the key, the foundation, the only way we can possibly grow in circumstances which soil is less than desirable; is to know Jesus. To know we are loved by a faithful Father and sustaining God enables us to live with abundant life that comes from being rooted and grounded, connected to the One who is Life.

To know God, to be filled with all of His fullness I must be with Him and so I read His words. I ask for courage and strength to believe Him when the doubts and fears assail my heart and mind. 

I can only do and live like He has modeled for us and asks us to do because of Him.

I take a moment to sit with the Father and let Him speak over me with His love. I pray for courage to stay with Him and I ask Him to open my eyes so I can understand a bit more of His mysterious and life-giving ways.  

My friend and fellow-sojourner, I pray the same for you. That today, in whatever you are walking through in this one life we get to live, that you may know God’s love and ground your heart, mind, and soul in this life-giving truth. Rooted and grounded in love and to know God’s love so you can be filled with all of His fullness.  

Connected to Him is the only way to life and to have life within us. Growing, blooming - right where you and I are planted.