Deeply Rooted

THURSDAY, SECOND WEEK OF LENT

Deeply Rooted

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. —Jeremiah 17:7-8

If ever there has been a time for us to focus on trusting and being deeply rooted in the Lord, it has been this past year. A tree needs to be deeply rooted to tap into a source of life-sustaining water if it is to survive storms, drought, fire, and pest infestations. Of course, being deeply rooted doesn’t mean the tree will avoid these threats, nor does it guarantee that it won’t endure some damage over the years. The same can be said for all of God’s faithful.

Jesus never promised to shield us from hardship, just as trees planted near water aren’t shielded from acts of nature. Maybe you have known times when you thought you might topple from the weight of pain, loss, anxiety, sickness, or loneliness. Yet you didn’t. You are still here, and now your rootedness in God is deeper than ever. If bad weather threatens you now, continue trusting in the Lord and trusting in your rootedness to Jesus.

FOR ACTION:

Do something physical today to symbolize rooting yourself in God. Sit on the bare earth for prayer time. Walk barefoot under a tree, reflecting on it’s rootedness. Get down on the ground to play with a child. Prepare a meal that includes root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, yams, beets, etc). Thank God for the rootedness that keeps you connected to our Creator.