Going for an early morning walk following a violent windstorm the night prior, I saw the evidence of destruction that plagued the neighborhood. Broken branches littered the streets, and a sea of leaves and garbage blanketed the sidewalks. I gasped to notice many trees in the area had fallen entirely over—their trunks had snapped like toothpicks in the storm. One tree in my neighborhood, however, remained seemingly untouched. Unlike the smaller, younger trees around it, this tree stood tall. Enduring the storm with strength and resilience, its branches and trunk were unshaken. It had deep roots.
I’ve often felt like those frail, immature trees that were beaten and battered in the windstorm. Without roots that grew deep, and without my foundation built on my faith in God, I found my base easily rattled. It wasn’t just major challenges or difficulties that wrecked my attitude and triggered a negative outlook. Minor daily stressors and annoyances tended to derail my entire day, squashing my joy and snuffing my peace.
As I invest daily in my relationship with God through Bible study, prayer, and worship, two things happen (Ephesians 3:17). First, my foundation is increasingly built upon the unchanging Word of God—a firm foundation that never changes. Second, as I come to know my Savior on a personal level and better understand His radical love for me, my roots grow deeper into that love. As a result, a peace and joy that is immune to ever-changing circumstances increasingly fills me. Although our world and its standards are ever-changing, Jesus Christ remains the same.
With Jesus as your foundation, your foundation cannot be rocked or uprooted, no matter how fierce the storms around you. Remain firm and secure in Him. Grow deep roots.
Emily Marszalek enjoys the simple pleasures in life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband Nick and their two Goldendoodles, Charlie and Lucy. She loves jigsaw puzzles, animals, rock music, and all flavors of birthday cake.