“But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s Word.”  Matthew 13:21 NLT

Deep Roots

I was recently asked if I could be a tree, what would I choose, and why? This question took me off guard. I had never thought of being a tree before. I said I would be an oak, because they are big and strong. This question kept coming to mind over and over, so I decided to find out about the mighty oak tree.

Oak trees are called America’s National Tree, since oaks grow all over the United States—in fact, all over the world. Oak trees begin from a seed. When the seed sprouts, that first growth becomes the taproot. The taproot is what goes deep into the soil and ultimately becomes the stable and nurturing part of the tree. Oaks have deep roots, some as deep as 20 feet. When two species of the same type are close together, they will share root systems for water and nutrients. Since they have such deep roots, they show less drought stress than other trees. They do not tolerate transplanting because of their deep roots.

I think I picked a good tree to be if I was to be a tree. I would grow big and strong. I would have deep roots and be able to share my bounty with others, and I could not be moved.

Then I got to thinking, could I be like an oak tree in God’s kingdom? It says in Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in His own image…” I want to take the things I learned about the oak and apply it to mankind. Oak trees start small, just as Christians starting with that first step of belief in God is like a seed. Then with daily intentional prayer and study, our roots start to grow, and with consistency our roots will go deep into God’s Word and God’s ways. When we are able, we can then share what we know and what God has done for us with others, just as the oak shares what it has with other oaks.

We can bind together with others and bring about new seeds to grow and set down roots. The deeper our roots penetrate into God’s truth and love, the less we will be subject to instability. We may blow in the wind, but we cannot be blown down. These are the deep roots of our salvation. We not only thrive when everything is going well, but we can sustain in hard times, times of drought.

Most importantly, we cannot be transplanted out of God’s kingdom; once we belong to Him, we always belong to Him, and He then becomes part of our root system. With Him, we are fed and nourished. His living water will flow through us and into others.

“Lord, I pray today that You will help my roots of faith grow deep into Your ways and Your love and truths. Be with me in times of plenty and times of drought; help me to persevere and thrive in your kingdom. In Jesus’ precious Name I pray. Amen.”