Deep Roots

Whilst walking through our neighbourhood yesterday, there was plenty evidence of fallen trees.

We passed a few trees that had been uprooted. Their roots seemed quite shallow, without much depth.

For a moment, I wondered if they would have survived the wind and storm, if their roots had been deeper.

Similarly, each of us will face the winds and storms of adversity in our own lives.

As the wind blows, are you prepared to withstand the buffetings that follow?

Seedlings fall to the ground, and dependent upon a number of factors, some may flourish and grow into mighty trees.

Opposition, challenge, and difficulty are part of growth. It takes time, effort, perseverance, set-backs will be inevitable and adaptation certain.

“But unlike trees, we can choose to deliberately develop the spiritual root structure for our lives. We decide where to set our roots down and how deeply to sink them into the soil. Daily decisions make tiny, almost imperceptible differences in the roots of our faith, the effect of which becomes foundational.” – says L. Whitney Clayton.

In the Book of Mormon, Alma likened the word of God to a seed and spoke of the need to nourish the seed’s growth into a tree:

“And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

“But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.” (Alma 32:37-38.)

It is my personal witness, that as we weather the storms of life, we will be strengthened by learning of Jesus Christ.

As we deeply root ourselves in the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ and exercise our faith in Him, He will fortify us against any buffetings from winds and storms that will come.