Anyone who lives in New York City (NYC) or grew up driving on NYC highways or roads knows how bad the roads can be and how damaging snow and ice can be. I won’t, however, get on my soapbox about why these roads haven’t been fixed yet, despite the ridiculous rise in tolls in the last 10 years.
I happened to be driving on the beautifully paved roads of Ft. Lauderdale a few weeks ago and was reminded of those bumpy rides in NYC. I kept riding over these hidden bumps in the road, seemingly out of place on this particular street. They were definitely not the well defined speed bumps, usually implemented on roads in residential neighborhoods or near schools, to slow drivers down. After saying, “Sorry” to the passengers in the car for like the 5th time, and still continuing to encounter these bumps, my mother said something to me:
You know what causes these bumps in the road? The roots of the trees are so powerful that they are causing damage to the roads.
I had never considered that before because honestly, I didn’t know what was creating the bumps in the road. It got me to thinking about something the Lord has been impressing upon my heart these last several months about having deep roots and being anchored. Clearly, bumpy roads and deep roots have something in common.
Several close friends have shared some pretty heartbreaking things with me over the last several months, things I don’t know how I would respond to if in the same situation. These circumstances were definitely bumps in the road that seemed to come out of nowhere. For some, it had really challenged their faith and rocked them to their core. For others, they felt like they were crumbling under the weight of it all. Yet, in every situation, not only was God revealing something to them about where their faith was really anchored, but He was revealing something to me. It made me think of this scripture:
Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Matthew 7:24-27, ESV
I found myself asking:
What is my house built on, the Rock or sand?
When the storms of life come crashing in or the bumps in the road of life show up unexpectedly, what am I really anchored in?
What will the trial or circumstances reveal about me and where my faith lies?
I began praying and asking the Lord to help me to become so anchored in Him, a sure foundation—the Rock (Psalm 78:35)—so that if, when the bumps appear or the winds and storms of life come crashing in, I am not uprooted, found doubting, thinking negatively or falling.
The bumps on the Florida street were not man-made speed bumps, but were formed because of the roots of the trees lining the middle of the road. The roots of these trees were so deep and spread so wide that they were strong enough to transform the environment around it, instead being conformed to or altered by the things around it. The bumps caused by these roots led others to slow down and even use caution when moving along the roads (or risk severe damage to their vehicles.) Those trees were more likely to do damage to its environment and not the other way around, simply because they were deeply rooted.
So should it be with us as ladies in waiting. Use your time of waiting to get so deeply rooted in Christ that you, “the godly will have deep roots” (Proverbs 12:3, NLT). Sis, it’s not enough to accept Jesus Christ as Lord. That is just the beginning of your faith walk. We have a responsibility once we have given our life to Christ to:
…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
The next time you drive over a bump in the road that isn’t man-made, look around to see where the trees are and consider the roots. Offer up a prayer to the Lord, thanking Him for the bumps in your own life and for the roots you are allowing to grow down deep into Him.
Genesis 2:22, NLT
Scripture references: The Holy Bible (ESV)
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Lady In Waiting 222 