Are You Rooted?

“It grew up quickly enough, but soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil” (Mark 4:5b-6, TLB).

Recognize this quote? It’s from one of Jesus’ most well-known and detailed metaphors, the Parable of the Sower. There are so many treasures to pull out from this passage of Scripture, but today I want to focus in on the concept of roots.

The picture the Lord paints for us here is of utmost importance for our spiritual lives. Every single one of us is affected by the presence, or absence, of strong roots. Jesus was vividly portraying what happens to the faith of those who don’t have those healthy roots. Simply put, it dies.

Shallow, malnourished faith will not make it long term. Your Daddy God knows this. He understands the urgency of getting you established with an extensive root system, and He is fiercely committed to doing just that.

This is the lens through which to look at the seasons we sometimes spend in the wilderness with Him. None of us like desert seasons! In fact, we tend to have a vehement distaste for them. However, without them, our roots would never get as deep and as strong as we need them to be. You see, it’s in the midst of the long dry spells when a plant’s roots dig down deeper into the soil seeking for water.

It’s during these times when everything within us cries out, “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water” (Ps. 63:1, NKJV).

David penned these words when he was traversing his own wilderness season. All three components of his being; body, soul, and spirit, were yearning for refreshment. Out of his lack, out of his need, out of his desperation, he cried out to the only One who could meet him there. Each and every time, God came through, providing David with the strength and tenacity to push through one more day. A day at a time, he doggedly pressed forward, refusing to give up on the dream God had placed in his spirit.

In the desert, David developed the heart of a king. In the desert, his roots went down deeper and deeper into God. In the desert, he learned how to tap into the deep, underground supplies of living water discovered by those who are willing to tarry in the waiting season.

The beautiful news is that he didn’t have to stay in the desert forever. Neither do you or I. Our beautiful God purposefully schedules periods of refreshing into His carefully orchestrated plans for our lives. At just the right time, deep draughts of Holy Spirit water are coming your way!

Meanwhile, take comfort in the understanding that this is what He is accomplishing in you during the dry season: “…That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:17-19, NKJV, bold emphasis mine).

He is rooting you and grounding you in His amazing love. You are going to come out of the desert more filled with all the fullness of God than you’ve ever been before! His purposes for you are exceedingly good!

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Have you walked through a desert season in your spiritual life? What are your thoughts or observations about that time?