Deep-Rooted (Part 1)

Sitting at my bedroom window, I watched the deep grey clouds approaching from the south. The sun was still shining directly above my location. The winds began to slightly flutter the leaves of the trees and the smell of rain permeated through the air.

As the clouds moved closer, the winds became stronger. Deep, yet mellow rolls of thunder began to cover the area and slight vibrations shook the earth. Flashes of lightning lit the skies as the heavy rains begin.

The winds became strong and violent and the trees swayed vigorously back and forward. Every tree seemed as though it were seconds from snapping or being uprooted.

When the storm passed, I was eager to go outside and assess the potential damage to the trees. There were a few that had been snapped and a couple that had been completely uprooted and toppled over. I couldn’t help but wonder why some of the trees were damaged and others were perfectly okay.

In that instant, the Lord spoke to my heart and gave me a message.

Brethren, we are like trees of the earth. The Lord allows us to have good days where we bathe in the sunlight and then there are others where storms inevitably approach our lives. As trees, we know and understand that storms are accompanied by violent commotions, yet we need the rain that is also associated with the storm.

Fret not. GOD is the answer to us as he is the tree. He offers salvation and refuge during the storms. He does not remove the tree from the path of the storm, yet he equips it to withstand the storm.

He gives the tree an opportunity to be deeply rooted into the earth where it draws its strength. He gives us an opportunity to be rooted in HIM, the central source of strength for all things. He gives the tree elasticity where it bends but not breaks. He also allows us to bend through our storms, but he graces us with relief by allowing us to relinquish the burdens of our tumultuous storms. He provides the tree with a protective bark to withstand the dangerous debris the tree faces during the storm. He provides us protection by offering the full armor of GOD.

You see, if we are ill-prepared for the storms on the horizon, we are like the slim tree, with a shallow root system, and a weak exterior bark.  As Christians, we must immerse ourselves into all that GOD offers us in preparation for the storms. This will give us the strength to withstand the bend instead of succumb to sin. That is, we will sway during the storms instead of being snapped or toppled by the violent commotion the storm has to offer.

Today’s Bible verses:

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

³ Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

My prayer for you today:

Heavenly Father, as we root ourselves in You, our rock and foundation, we ask that you continue to carry us through our storms. We thank You for being our refuge during our troubling times, and praise you for returning us to sunshine. In the midst of the storm, we know that it too must obey you. In the name of Jesus, Amen…

By: C.D. McCloud