Rooted & Grounded

“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The word tree or trees is used 357 times within the Bible. God loves to use trees as analogies, however not all of these usages are used in a symbolic way.

There are so many interesting nuances to trees, and I think more than I share can be applicable to life. Hope you enjoy!

Coastal Redwood

Coastal redwoods’ are tall, I mean massive. I’ve never seen them in person, but there are photos/videos of cars driving under them. They grow to 300-380ft tall. And they’re old. These trees are 800-2000 years old. Grand Daddy trees of the earth. Their root systems, however are very shallow in comparison to their height. I wouldn’t have guessed that. Their roots actually spread outwards reaching as far as 60-80 feet wide.

The secret to the redwood’s resiliency is that their roots intertwine with other redwoods for added stability.

#dontdolifealone

Chinese Bamboo Tree

The Chinese Bamboo tree takes five years to grow, with little to no visible growth for the first four years. In the fifth year, it suddenly shoots up, growing an astonishing 90 feet in just six weeks. The root system was growing and being established to support the tree for year 5.

Les Brown shared the story of planting the bamboo seed and going out to water the seed every day for 4 years. Your neighbors wonder what you’re doing, and even though you can’t see the growth you continue to have faith that it’s happening so you consistently day after day go out to the garden and water the seed you planted. If at anytime you gave up on watering or tried to dig up the planted seed, the plant would’ve died. Sounds a little like the Noah story to me…..

#patience #perseverance #consistency #dontgiveup

Gumbo Limbo Trees

The Gumbo Limbo Tree is known for it’s wind tolerance. Their flexible branches, relatively shallow but wide-spreading root systems, and ability to grow when planted in a variety of conditions.

These characteristics allow them to withstand strong storms and even hurricane-force gusts, making them a popular choice for coastal areas and locations prone to strong winds. 

#stormresistant #flexibility #growwhereyoureplanted

“For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Wild Fig Tree

The tree with the deepest roots ever recorded is a wild fig tree found in South Africa, with roots reaching 400 feet (120 meters) deep.

The Wild Fig tree is a keystone species, which is a species that has a largely disproportionate effect on its environment due to its abundance. Making the wild fig tree is an essential element of the ecosystem in which it exists.

The fig tree has the effect on its environment due to its enormous roots. Root systems sole purposes are to anchor, absorb, support, store, and reproduce.

What makes it wild is being unsupported by humans. It’s uncultivated.

“For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.” Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

““I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”” Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Which tree do you most relate to?