Jentezen Franklin (April 14, 2025) Daily Devotional: How Deep Are Your Roots?
“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither- whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:3
On one occasion, Jesus used a tree to teach the disciples the importance of having the proper foundation. A tree is only as mighty as the roots that you cannot see. We get impressed with the outer extremities that we can see externally. When we see a tree, we get excited about the branches, the beautiful leaves, and the strong trunk. But God wants you to understand that if a tree’s roots are not firmly fixed and connected to living water, then it’s only a matter of time before the winds and the storms come that the tree will wither up and die. But if the tree has good roots, the strong foundation you cannot see will begin to bear fruit and thrive.
Jesus was teaching that it is not what is visible that is important but what’s invisible. It’s what’s under the surface that matters. It doesn’t matter how people look outwardly. It’s not about driving the right car, how much money you make, or how successful people say you are. You have to have something on the inside of you that goes down deep beneath the sod, the soil, and the sand and connects you to a greater power than yourself. Remember that it’s the roots that bring nourishment, life, and nutrition to the tree.
When droughts and storms come, will you be connected to God's strong roots? Being grounded in Him will allow you to stand when others would fall down. When a time of testing comes, and you get a bad report from the doctor, or a child gets addicted to drugs, or your marriage starts to crumble, the thing that will keep you standing is having deep roots of faith in God. The winds of life may hit you, but God will keep you standing.
In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, but apart from me, you can do nothing.” You might be withered up right now, but if you establish the right roots, you will begin to thrive again.
