I had the privilege of meeting Katy Kauffman this spring at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, and I am absolutely thrilled to have her guest posting on my blog today. She has a sweet spirit and great love for the Lord. I know you’ll be blessed by what she has to share with us today. Enjoy!
It was magnificent to behold. I vividly remember walking with my parents through the park and coming upon a gigantic tree that had fallen. It wasn’t enormous just because I was five years old. Its mighty trunk was at least three feet in diameter, and its root system, still interwoven in mounds of dirt, was about twice my dad’s height. Yet this giant of a tree had fallen, and it serves as a reminder.
Winds come. Storms rage. Roots grow weary. Are your roots strong? This poor tree had been magnificent in appearance, but apparently its roots weren’t strong enough to keep it grounded. How easy is it for some harsh wind of adversity to knock us over? Or for us to lose our footing in life because of fears and doubts? The winds and storms of life will whirl around us, but it is possible to stay grounded in the peace of God and not lose our hope or even our joy.
So how do we stay grounded? What do we, as God’s children and “trees of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:3 NKJV), need to stay grounded for life and withstand the brunt of storms and trials? Like trees, we need four things.
- Sunshine – Absorb the warmth of God’s love.
A tree needs sunlight to grow, both above and below ground. God is the sunshine that warms our souls and gives us reason to stand strong when the wind blows and the rain beats down on us. Remember how much God loves you. Let the awareness of His presence with you and the fierceness of His love warm your soul and keep you in awe. God cherishes His children and allows only what they can handle in Him. So draw close to Him. Tell Him what’s going on, and listen for His counsel. You will often find it in His Word.
- Water – Drink in the refreshment of God’s Word.
Just as water is essential for a tree to survive, God’s Word is essential to the believer. Spend time in Scripture, and drink in the refreshment and nourishment it provides. Its promises and truths will refresh your spirit when fears and doubts threaten to steal your peace. Write your favorite verses on index cards, and put them where you will see them often. Continually take in God’s Word, and let it strengthen your anchor in God and His peace.
- Oxygen – Depend on God’s power to act on your behalf.
As roots need oxygen to produce energy, we need God’s power to sustain our strength. No trial or storm is a surprise to Him, and He has the power to enable us to face it victoriously. Wait on God to act on your behalf, and watch Him renew your strength (Isaiah 40:31). Stay grounded for life by depending on Him and His power, even if you don’t know how a difficult situation will turn out. He knows how to rescue and restore, how to heal and set things right when we look to Him.
- Good Soil – Unearth doubts and fears.
A tree needs good ground for its root system to grow and anchor it in the soil. Hard ground or too many obstructions can result in a shallow root system. Search your heart and mind for any doubts or fears that lie beneath the surface, and allow God to transform your heart into good ground. Refuse fearful or anxious thoughts from the enemy. Let your faith in God be a shield against Satan’s darts. Cooperate with God’s work in your life to remove what is harmful, and have faith in Him who controls all things and loves you perfectly.
Christ is the Key
Stay rooted in Christ. “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV). In Jesus we have peace (John 16:33), His peace full of hope, strength, stability, and comfort. He who wins the victory over sin, Satan, and the world is the maker and sustainer of our peace.
So don’t let the winds of adversity and fear topple you over. Stay rooted in Christ. Find peace in Him. Let His love warm your heart, His Word refresh your soul, His power sustain your resolve, and His work transform your life. Our roots in Christ will keep us standing strong.
Katy Kauffman is the author of 2 Timothy: Winning the Victory, a Bible study on how to win the spiritual battles of life and ministry. She is a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies, and graduated from Luther Rice Seminary with a BA in Religion. Her heart’s desire is for women to know and love God, understand the richness of His Word, and fulfill His plan for their lives. She makes her home in a cozy suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. You can find her on Facebook or Twitter.
© Copyright 2014 by Katy Kauffman
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