Rooted

The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve loved learning about plants and gardening. It’s quite a skill to learn how to care for a plant. It’s not just the effort to make sure your plant has enough sunlight and water, but you must also protect it from pests and disease and make sure it has great soil, too.

I picture the plants in my garden as I read these words from Paul:

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

We don’t want to be Christians who barely survive, with diseased branches and root rot creeping in to destroy our ability to live at our full potential. We can’t just initially purchase a plant and expect it to survive without proper care, and the same applies to our walk with Jesus. The initial “yes” saves us and washes us clean from sin, but continually following Him is where we flourish, produce fruit, and live full, abundant lives. Living a life like that makes thankfulness overflow naturally. And I don’t know about you, but I want that kind of life!

So it’s important that we check the conditions we’ve planted ourselves in. Where are we rooting?

First and most obviously, we must root ourselves in Jesus. Trying to find our identity and satisfaction in anything else is going to leave us empty. Building our lives upon our roles—which change throughout the seasons of life—will leave us feeling confused and lost. Even trying to root our lives in a great community of wonderful people in an ideal place to raise a family—if it isn’t where Jesus is leading us—is going to impact our growth. God knows what is best for us even more than we know for ourselves, and it’s important that we follow His lead in every area of our lives.

Not every plant needs the same amount of sun, water, or type of fertilizer, and the same applies to us as followers of Jesus—we are not all wired the same! But there are some vitals we all need to survive—God’s Word, time in prayer, and a strong Christian community. Every follower of Jesus needs these things. And yes—it is vital to have community. Not only do therapists today encourage surrounding yourself with community for better emotional, mental, and even physical health, but the Word tells us not to neglect meeting together as followers of Jesus (Hebrews 10:25).

Once we have these vitals in place, we can lean in further to tweak them and maximize our growth. For example—do you read the Word in the morning or at night? What kind of church do you attend? It is okay to find what works best for you. We won’t all be drawn to the same kind of church—a dear pastor friend of ours describes this like flavors of ice cream. Not everyone likes strawberry, and that’s okay. There are plenty of “flavors” to choose from, so go find a place where you find your people—where you experience belonging.

This doesn’t mean finding a church that tells you what you want to hear. It is non-negotiable to find a church that preaches the full truth found in the Word of God and allow it to convict and shape us as we follow Jesus. But once that foundation is set, it’s okay to be flexible with preferences—from small details like musical expression to bigger ones like finding a place where you truly belong and build close friendships.

There are also details unique to each of us that we must follow Jesus in. For example, a plant that once thrived in a pot may outgrow its home and need to spread its roots into the ground. Other plants need to stay in pots so they can be moved indoors during winter seasons so harsh temperatures won’t kill them. Repotting one plant might be necessary for its survival, while repotting another might be the very thing that harms it. Some plants thrive indoors, while others need full sunlight and flourish in the heat.

We can’t compare our personal journey to the pace of other believers. Not every believer is called to the mission field—some go, and some send. Not every mom is meant to work full-time, and not every mom is meant to stay home full-time either. The list goes on. All plants need the same essentials, but the many varieties of plants on earth thrive with different kinds of care. You are not lesser because your life pace looks different than the believer next to you—even if you seem to have a lot in common.

God knows exactly what we need. As we listen to Him in prayer and through reading the Word, He whispers, “Follow me.” He leads us through each passing season of our lives. Sometimes He changes things and leads us in new directions. Sometimes He tells us to stay right where we are. Whatever He whispers, we can trust our Creator’s lead as He lovingly guides us along the path that is best for each of us as individuals.

Take a moment to listen to Him today. What is He saying to you about your life?