Rooted in Him

Yesterday I was working upstairs on the second floor, next to an open window. The wind outside was strong. I could hear it moving through the trees and I stopped for a few minutes just to take it in. In fact, more than once i would pause while working and look and listen. The trees were moving a lot the branches were swaying hard and some looked like they might break. But they didn’t they stayed standing, held firmly in place by their roots.

As I sat there listening and watching, it made me think about life with God.

We all face pressure, we face unexpected challenges, disappointments, and days that shake us to the core. But when we’re rooted in God, we may bend, but we do not break. His strength keeps us grounded. His truth gives us strength when nothing else can or makes sense.

But not every tree can handle the storm. Some look strong from the outside, but when the wind comes, they fall. Not because of what’s happening on the surface, but because something deeper is wrong, the roots are weak, the inside is unhealthy.

There have been times when I allowed bitterness, unforgiveness, and pride to take root in my heart, and it affected my relationship with God. I began to feel distant from Him, as if there was a barrier between us. Prayer felt harder, and I found myself avoiding the very truth I needed to hear. It didn’t just impact my connection with God; it showed up in how I treated others too. I became easily irritated, withdrawn, and less patient. Looking back, and even now at times, I can see that my roots weren’t grounded in the right things. I was trying to stand on my own, relying on my own strength, and it just didn’t work.

But even in that place, God never turned away from me. He gently reminded me that it’s never too late to come back. That my roots can grow again. That healing and connection are still possible.

And as I sat there by the open window, something else came to mind. The wind that was shaking the trees reminded me of the Holy Spirit. In Scripture, the Spirit is often described like the wind, he moves, he speaks and he breathes life. And I realized that the Spirit is not just here to hold us steady. He is also here to move us.

When we are rooted in God and open to the Holy Spirit, He begins to stir something inside us. Sometimes He whispers and sometimes He challenges us deeply. But He always brings growth. He is always working for our good. The same wind that can feel overwhelming can also become the very breath of God leading us, stretching us, and filling us with His presence.

We do not need to fear His movement. When our hearts are soft and our roots are deep, we can let Him shape us. We can be steady and surrendered. Strong and willing.

Jeremiah gives us a powerful picture. A person who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted by the water. That tree is never anxious when trouble comes. Its leaves stay green and it always bears fruit. It is alive and growing, no matter what season it is in.

That is the life I want! A life rooted in God, a life moved by His Spirit. A life that stands in the storm and keeps growing through it all.

If today you feel the wind or if you’ve noticed your heart drifting or growing cold, you are not alone. God is near,  He is ready to strengthen your roots and breathe new life into your soul.

Let Him hold us steady. Let Him move through us with life, love and power.