Welcome to Day 4 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be… Or…simply: Be…
Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and
in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you’d like
to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here.
I’m tired of being strong.
Have you ever said that?
That’s about how I feel right now. Sorta.
At the moment either of us feel that way, it’s time to dig in a little deeper. Yes?
Have you ever planted a small tree?
There are two schools of thought on the tree planting business. One is to plant it properly and give it all the water and nutrients it needs to grow tall and strong. The other school of thought is to do all that AND stake the tree so that it will stand straight and tall, even when the strong winds come. Where these two schools disagree is about what makes for strong roots. Some believe that if the tree gets assaulted with the wind, its roots won’t be able to catch and dig in and grow, thus the need for the staking. Others believe that when the winds come the roots will work harder and drive themselves deeper into the earth and become strong and hearty and able to withstand even more winds as the tree grows taller.
Do you want to be strong to weather the storms of life?
All you need to do is grow your roots deep. Really deep.
Of course you could get some stakes to help support you like the ‘tree staking’ camp. Family, friends, work, etc. But, when the real storms come, any of these stakes might not hold. Then where would you be? Wobbling in the wind.
People are fickle. People are selfish. People are busy. Even the best people. People like me, and you. We just can’t depend on even the best of people to keep us strong through the winds of life.
But…there is SOMEONE we can depend on.
The Apostle Paul gives us and the Ephesians these words of Truth:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV (bold emphasis mine)
When we are strong in the Lord it’s because we are rooted in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:8 NIV (bold emphasis mine)
We must be careful to keep our roots growing, watering and feeding with powerful nutrients in order to maintain our strength.
Now that you have welcomed the Anointed One, Jesus the Lord, into your lives,
continue to journey with Him and allow Him to shape your lives.
Let your roots grow down deeply in Him,
and let Him build you up on a firm foundation.
Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught,
and always spill over with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7 The Voice (bold emphasis mine)
Are you feeling a bit wobbly through the storms of life?
Check the health of your roots.
I think mine need some tending to today. How are yours?
I love hearing your thoughts too. Please share what helps you stay strong in the storms of life.
And…if you’re new here…Welcome!! Please take a minute to introduce yourself. [hugs]
Standing in the storm….
~Diane
I hope you’ll consider visiting each day during this #31Day series.
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Sharing with these Extraordinary spots:
Wow! You “hit the nail on the head” for me today! Gorgeous photography, your thoughts and scriptures are exactly the encouragement I needed…
Isn’t that just like God?
Thanks for your kind encouraging words. I’m so blessed that he would use my post to encourage you.
Big {hugs} Mary Lise!! 🙂
Dear Diane, Love these thoughts on trees & roots & also, well, the wind. It’s not a question of whether or not there will be wind…the question is when? & how hard will it blow! I do want my roots to grow down even deeper, day by day.
Another lovely inspirational verse comes to mind: “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor” (Isaiah 61:3b -NIV) This particular promise I claim for all the menfolk in my family now w/all the temptations of the media, etc. But all of us need to be strong like the mighty trees that have been proven w/the winds & challenges of every season.
Thank you for reminding us what an inspiration a tree can be!
Ah….yes…not whether…WHEN. I do wish I had learned that when I was younger in my faith. Somehow I believed that if I lived well and pleasing to the Lord I would avoid trouble.
Thank you for sharing another inspirational verse!! 🙂 And those prayers you’re praying for the men in your life. Wow! How blessed they are.
Thanks for popping by and making my day with your sweet always encouraging words.
Hope your weekend is truly Extraordinary, Carolyn! 🙂
I am enjoying being fed on the 31 days. And I like all the verses. Also Isaiah 61:3b
I was thinking about a young person with The Lord now, just two weeks, and the family sorrow…and yet as his brother has shared parts of this young mans personal journal, my faith lived so much longer and differently, well I felt I learned about having to really rely on The Lord when each second is now a whirlwind of storms for this young man….yet I feel I was allowed to have him in my life as “a planting of The Lord for the display of His splendor.” It’s been something I’ve struggled with, but now feel this verse answers for me personally.. How this young man’s story will go forth and show the splendor of His splendor!
And Diane, I was a bit like you thinking that because I loved Jesus and was doing the right things for Him, the storms would not come. It was a great push for the Christian books and magazines and speakers to women. It’s not even Biblical!!! For the zBible says when the suffering comes, when the tests come….so as older women (well I’m not old, old but my kids are grown), maybe we can share the messages of this post to them so they too can grow strong roots early in life?!!!
It’s only God, Gwen. Totally HIM.
I’m so glad that you found encouragement in the verse from Isaiah. God redeems what has been broken and lost for his glory. 🙂
Oh…good…I’m not alone in this. I have been amazed at the depth of faith in the gals I meet in their 20’s & 30’s who grasp this concept. It really changes everything and I so wish I had grasped this before.
{hugs}
Thank you for the beautiful pictures and the reminder to tend to our roots. I feel due to some of life’s challenges during the week I forgot, no, neglected to tend to them and keeping them strong. I needed to be reminded of this:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes.
Oh Jo….that’s the deception. We get our eyes on our circumstances rather than the one who holds us in his hands and makes us strong.
I am so grateful that God used this post to bless you.
May you know his grace and mighty power in new and fresh ways.
[hugs]
~Diane
Oh dearheart….I’ve struggled all my growing up life. I’m still working on trusting the process. I get that I have limited vision, limited knowledge…but boy, there really are times when I’m telling the Big Guy how to “do a better job”. I’ve never been good at “blind faith” and just being a good PR person for G-d. If I don’t get it, I don’t get it. I’ll hope the dots connect for me at some point–they may not. And some things I just don’t get to know. There are lots of things I can do to strengthen me…and I do that. I take ‘me time’, I spend time chatting with G-d, I connect with people who exude a peacefulness and serenity that I wish I could bottle, I pray and meditate and read and spend time breathing in the awesomeness of My Creator.
I know I still need to row the boat. I know I still get to wade through the muck and mire. I also know that I am stronger than I give myself credit. And sometimes it’s not about strength, for me….unless you count staying humble as “strength” like some folks around me seem to. LOL. *hugs*
You know….”taking time to pray and mediate and read and spend time breathing in the awesomeness of my Creator” that’s your home base. That’s what helps you to be the wonderful soul you are. And taking the time to do that is something I didn’t do until a few years ago. Sure there were tough times when I did…or times when I had to prepare for a small group or study or my YL Campaigner girls or whatever…but most of the time I was the Energizer Bunny on speed. Yeah. I missed out. Glad God somehow worked in me despite my brief five minutes a day with Him. [whacking forehead] And I’m even “gladder” this prime example of “human doing” finally got it. 🙂
Blessings!!!
Amen. I stayed on high speed to avoid the anxiety and issues. I wasn’t rooted like I thought when the tormenting fear hit. But God had mercy on me and is getting me through one day at a time. I must be rooted.
Mary, it’s been a few years since I originally write this post and I confess I have not sustained my learning of the season of that writing. Right now I’m in a major recovery mode from all my relentless buzzing around. Our own created default settings over ride our Creator’s. But as you, I’m grateful that he is amazingly patient and continues to help me get on his track in the most amazing ways. One step, one day at a time we will! May you experience true and lasting freedom, Mary! Rest in him and his amazing love for you. 🥰
Love this! I will be sharing a painting on the blog tomorrow based on being “rooted and grounded in His love”. Blessings!
How cool is that? I look forward to seeing it!
Thanks for popping by Barbie!
May your day be filled with HIS grace and love!