Recently, my pastor told a story about having a perfect beach day at the ocean years ago. He and his friends were just floating, talking, laughing, riding the little waves as they rolled in and out. What they weren’t aware of was that they were also drifting sideways, and by the time they realized it, they were the equivalent of about four or five football fields away from their cooler and beach chairs and towels. It was quite a trek back to where they started.
When we don’t pay attention, when we aren’t deeply rooted in our faith, we can drift without being aware of it. Suddenly, we look up and we are far away from where we started. We may have even drifted so far that we’ve forgotten where that starting point was.
We often admire the towering height and wide-reaching branches of a tree, forgetting that its true strength lies beneath the surface. A tree’s root system mirrors its visible form—spreading deep and wide to anchor and nourish. In fact, many trees have root systems that extend as far outward as their branches and sometimes even deeper into the earth than the tree rises above it. Hidden from view, these roots seek water, draw in nutrients, and cling to the soil through storms and seasons. It’s a beautiful reminder that growth and resilience are never just about what can be seen. True stability begins in the unseen places. Just like us, a tree thrives when it’s grounded in something deeper.
For Christians, that means we must be deeply rooted in Christ. That’s how we thrive. That’s how we keep from drifting.
Colossians 2:6-8 says: “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
The only way I know to ground our roots deep in Christ is through the nourishment found in reading/hearing God’s word and the refreshment found through His Holy Spirit. It’s also how we protect ourselves from being taken captive by the philosophy and deceptions and elementary principles of the world we live in. All those little things and thoughts and ideas that cause us to drift without even noticing it’s happened.
This year I’ve done my odd-year read-through of the Bible using the Bible Recap reading plan and book. While I am using the audio and Kindle versions of the book, the plan and readings are available for free using the Bible app (YouVersion). I’m also just wrapping up a women’s Bible study at church and am currently deciding what I am going to study on my own until the next women’s study begins.
I’ve been a Christian for nearly 50 years, and studying His word never ever gets old. It is alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. And it keeps me rooted and protects me from drift.
What study have you done lately that has kept you rooted in Jesus?
~robin
Robin Lee Hatcher
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Very well said! Thank you.
😀
Our small group for ladies at our church (not so small as there are nearly 200 of us in the group) studied When You Pray from 6 well-known devotional authors talking about 6 well-loved prayers in the Bible. It was so inspiring and helped me improve my prayer time, especially in the area of adoration to the Lord. My grandmother told me years ago (she was 84 at the time), “You never stop learning about Jesus and how to serve Him. There is always something more.”
I did the “When You Pray” study a couple of years ago with my Life Group. It is excellent. And Amen to what your grandmother told you!
Being rooted and grounded in Him is crucial for allowing the Holy Spirit to work, transforming us into the image of Christ. I just finished a book and Bible study by Joanna Weaver, titled “Embracing Trust.” Full of the truth of Scripture!
The study I just completed is “I Want to Trust You, But I Don’t.” Sounds like “Embracing Trust” would be a good follow up.
Really enjoyed this timely post as there are so many “currents” out there now wanting to drag us away from truth.
I’m currently reading ‘Pray a Word a Day: Connecting with God One Word at a Time’ by Guidepost. It’s very interesting to see how one word can connect me to God in a whole new way.
That sounds good, Amy. Thanks for sharing it.
So true, Robin! I am diligent about staying in God’s word, not because I “must” but because I’ve come to love it so much! I’m currently in a read-through, and as soon as I get this book to my editor, I plan to watch Beth Moore’s new teaching series, Becoming Who We Are.