“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” ~ Ephesians 3:17 (NLT)
Third row from the left, second seat back. That’s where I parked myself during speech class, a one hundred level class I took as an elective in college. It seemed easy enough. You go, you talk, you pass. Right? I figured I’d be challenged, but how difficult could it really be?
As expected, the class proved challenging but enjoyable. Many of the techniques, tools and skills learned still help me even now when speaking publicly. It was certainly worth my time.
What I didn’t expect, however, was a challenge I received early in the semester.
My professor, a fun-loving leftist, thought it fun to toy with me, a freshman rightist. He enjoyed stories of my rural upbringing, loved hearing my “backwoods” speech and couldn’t believe anyone thought as innocently as I did. Our banter was fun, but soon took a turn which knocked me for a loop.
Our assignment for this particular speech had religious overtones. We could take it any way we liked, but we must be able to defend our content. I confidently wrote my speech, believing it to its core. After presenting, I took my seat, poised and ready to defend.
He looked at me and smiled. At that point, things took a turn.
Kindly, yet straight-forwardly, he began asking questions. One after another after another. Surprisingly, I couldn’t offer any support or defense other than, “Well, I think…” or “Well, I believe…” In turn, he’d ask “Why do you think?” or “Why do you believe?” I sat stunned. I really didn’t know. All I could offer were platitudes and cliches, what I grew up hearing or what I remembered from Sunday school lessons. I had no solid biblical defense to submit. For the first time, I had no idea why I believed what I believed.
Unfortunately, my astonishment didn’t propel me deep into His word, neither did my disappointment push me closer to him. Instead, I sang a little louder, attended a few more church functions and volunteered more than usual. Life was surface. My root system was non-existent because no relationship existed between my Creator and me.
As a result, I was at the mercy of life’s wind.
A search began. My search began.
It took a few years, but I finally found what I was looking for.
No wait! Rephrase…
It took a few years, but I finally found WHO I was looking for.
The moment I met him, my Creator, my Savior, the wind ceased and the roots appeared.
As I read and committed his word to memory, my roots deepened.
As I faithfully talked to him, seeking him INTENTIONALLY, my roots deepened.
As I worshiped him, singing his praises, my roots deepened.
As I shared him with friends, family and acquaintances, my roots deepened.
As I called upon him, receiving answer after answer, my roots deepened.
No longer does the wind of life toss me to and fro.
No longer do I leave life to chance.
No longer am I ignorant of his word.
My root system, nourished by him and him alone, is stronger and deeper. Even when the winds of life sweep through, I may lean a little, but my roots keep be grounded.
How about you…
Have you met the One who gives life? If so, are your roots still close to the surface or have they grown deep into the ground, providing you with a firm and sturdy foundation?
He’s waiting for you…
About Stefanie Brown
Oh, Stefanie, I have been waiting anxiously to see when YOU would be the writer here at Sisters in Bloom. How excited I was to see it YOU today! This is a beautiful post. I can so relate to the message you are sharing. I HAVE met the one who gives life. And I have had my roots deepen since I have been more focused on quiet time and my relationship with Him.
Thank you for sharing, in such a lovely way, a reminder I needed to hear.
Well put Stefanie. We must remember our foundation is partially built by our willingness to seek HIM too. All we have to do is look…so easy – cause He’s right there. Amen!
Stephanie~
This ia such a great story of your growth and rooting in Christ. I am constanly reminded to sink deep in and let Him filter up into my very core, so that I can withstand the tempests of this world. Beautiful, thank you my sweet friend!
PS: I love the way you speak!!
~remembering hearing your sweet voice at Relevant last Ocotber
Such wise words and insight, my friend! I too, can hear your voice, the delight and joy for our Savior, speaking through these words. Love you
Oh, Stefanie. I love this. I felt like you were singing my song, right down to that southern accent comment (which, by the way, you can always rest assured that I have you beat on). But it’s that old struggle with religion vs. relationship. I thank God every single day that He taught me the difference. And there’s so much depth to Him, we can spend the rest of our days getting to know Him and we still will have barely touched the hem of His garment.
Great post:)
So important to grow deep! We desperately need that close relationship. Thanks for sharing today!
Blessings,
Cyndi
I’m convinced we’re kindred spirits, because I’m you.Then. I’m a Graduate student at the moment, in a very liberal field, and it’s tough for me to firmly insist on my relationship with God. Thankfully though, my roots with him are getting deeper and deeper. My commitment though is to get better and better at strengthening the case for God for others. It would be such an honor to help someone else believe in him, because I’m more convinced than ever that having a relationship with God is the best relationship that you can have. Thanks for writing a post that I can believe in. I’m so thankful to be a sister in bloom. I genuinely enjoy reading everyone’s posts. Thanks for having me.
“My root system, nourished by him and him alone, is stronger and deeper. Even when the winds of life sweep through, I may lean a little, but my roots keep be grounded.”
Amen!
Thank you for the blessing of this post Stefanie.
All good things!