Where Are Your Roots Planted?
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
The Lord led us to move to the Fort Worth area after living my entire life in East Texas. How exciting! What an adventure! Okay, Lord, lead and direct our path! It seemed so easy. Our house sold in one day. We began packing.
As the date drew closer, a sadness overwhelmed me. I was leaving behind lifelong friendships, family, and the hometown I knew like the back of my hand. We were only moving two hours away, but I knew things would change. In this new place, I didn’t yet have a home, a church, or a job. I’d have to use GPS to get anywhere I want to go.
I imagined myself as a plant, pulled up, roots dangling and swaying in the breeze that was carried away with nowhere to land. This brought a deep sadness that overwhelmed the excitement.
The evening after we finished clearing out our precious little house, I stayed with a dear friend overnight. I shared this word picture that described my feelings of being uprooted. As she prayed over our meal, she said, “And Lord, help Johna remember her roots are in heaven and not dangling and suspended with nowhere to be replanted. She is rooted in You. Amen.”
We looked up at each other with wide eyes. She said, “That just came to me!” I knew that was from the Lord to encourage me and give me hope. What a reassurance!
When our lives are in Jesus’ hands, our roots are in Him. We have no reason to fear because we have the Source of Life filling us with everything we need to continue to bear fruit in life.
God is good. He knows every intricate detail about us and wants to love and encourage us along life’s path. I cannot imagine navigating this world without Him.
What about you? Have you trusted Him with your roots? Or are you trying to plant them here on earth in your own power? Oh, sweet friend, find the peace and assurance that is yours when you give your life into His hands.
Johna Clemons
