Several years ago, my mom, sister and I took a bus tour along the west coast. We started in Seattle and finished in San Francisco. It was a great trip. One of the places we stopped was the Redwood National Forest.
Redwoods can grow up to 350 feet tall and have a diameter of 24 feet around. With as tall and big as redwoods can be, you would think they would have a root system that extended deep into the ground to support such a massive structure. However, due to where they live on the west coast, the rain washes nutrients out of the soil fairly quickly so the redwoods support themselves by having shallow root systems that can spread out over a 100 feet from the base of the tree. By covering more area, the roots have a better chance of absorbing nutrients and water. The problem with a shallow root system is that too much rain softens the ground and the roots can’t hold tight. Strong winds can blow these giants over. As they tumble down, they take other shallow rooted redwoods with them.
About 150 years ago, most of Illinois was covered with prairie grasses and flowers. Some of the grasses can reach about 10-12 feet tall. Some have root systems that can extend that deep into the soil. This deep root system is what allows the prairie plants to survive the sub-zero winters, the hot and dry summers, winds with the force of tornadoes, and being burned to the ground. After in the spring or after a fire, the prairie plants will regrow from the roots.
Our roots need to be in God. Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
What kind of roots do you have?
Do you have righteous roots? Proverbs 12:12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers but the root of the righteous endures.
Do you have roots? Matthew 13:6 But when the sun cam up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
Do you have roots that hold you in place? Matthew 13:21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
I would like to say that I am more deeply rooted in God than what I am right now. I have allowed myself to become distracted by my job, my hobbies, things in the media, lives of co-workers, and so many other things. Today, I feel rooted in God but I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. The cool thing is that I can water my roots with more of God’s word, more prayer and discipling, and my roots will grow deeper so that when the bad stuff happens, I won’t topple like the giant redwoods.
If you feel like your roots are giving way or you don’t have any roots right now, please feel free to contact one of the women’s ministry leaders or elder’s wives and we will be glad to talk and pray with you.