“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.” Colossian 2:7
One of the greatest tests of our faith is not what we do when life is easy, but what we do when life is difficult. Anyone can praise God when prayers are answered, doors are opening, and blessings are flowing. The true depth of our roots is revealed when we face disappointment, suffering, waiting, loss, or circumstances that seem unfair.
Rooted in Christ
Just as tree roots give strength and nourishment, our roots in Christ keep us steady. When life shakes us, Christ holds us. He is our foundation, our strength, and our source of life.
Built Up in Faith
Faith grows one step at a time. We keep building our lives on God’s truth by listening to His Word, believing His promises, and choosing to follow Him each day.
Established in the Faith
To be established means to be firm and steady. God wants our faith to stand strong, even when the world is confusing, painful, or full of false voices.
Overflowing with Thankfulness
Thankfulness changes the way we see our trials. When we remember what Christ has done for us, our hearts become stronger, softer, and more trusting.
God desires His people to become oaks of righteousness, not fragile plants that wither under pressure.
“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” (Isaiah 61:3)
Just as an oak tree develops deep roots through years of storms, believers develop spiritual strength through trials, obedience, and trust.
How Do We Stay Rooted in Trials?
Trials have a way of exposing what we are truly rooted in. If our roots are in comfort, success, approval, or circumstances, we will struggle when those things are shaken. But if our roots are in Christ, we can remain standing even when life feels uncertain.
Stay rooted in God’s Word
The Word of God is our anchor when emotions and circumstances change.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Feelings may tell us that God has abandoned us. Circumstances may suggest that nothing is changing. God’s Word reminds us of what is eternally true regardless of what we see.
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)
Stay rooted in prayer
Prayer keeps our hearts connected to God during difficult seasons.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Prayer does not always remove the trial, but it strengthens us within the trial.
Stay rooted in God’s love
Trials can sometimes tempt us to question God’s goodness.
Paul prayed that believers would be:
“Rooted and established in love.” (Ephesians 3:17)
The cross of Christ is proof that God’s love does not disappear when life becomes difficult.
“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Remember that roots grow in hidden places
Much of God’s work happens beneath the surface.
Roots develop where no one can see them.
Character develops where no one applauds.
Faith grows where no one notices.
The season that feels unproductive may actually be the season where God is building your deepest roots.
How Does Obedience Build Spiritual Maturity?
Spiritual maturity is not measured by how much we know.
It is measured by how much we obey.
Many people fill their minds with Scripture but resist allowing Scripture to shape their lives. Growth happens when knowledge becomes obedience.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
Obedience develops trust
Every time we obey God, we are declaring that His wisdom is greater than our own.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
The more we obey, the more we discover God’s faithfulness.
Obedience develops character
God is far more concerned with who we are becoming than what we are accomplishing.
Obedience produces humility.
Obedience produces integrity.
Obedience produces patience.
Obedience produces perseverance.
James reminds us that the testing of our faith produces perseverance, and perseverance helps us become mature and complete. Trials are not pleasant, but God can use them to grow us, strengthen us, and make us more like Christ.
When we obey God in hard seasons, we show that we trust Him more than our feelings. We may not understand everything He allows, but obedience keeps us close to Him. It teaches us to depend on His wisdom instead of our own understanding.
Trust keeps us steady
Trust does not mean we have all the answers. Trust means we believe God is good, even when life is hard. Trust means we keep praying, keep obeying, keep hoping, and keep standing on His Word.
A rooted believer may bend in the storm, but by God’s grace they will not be uprooted. The deeper our roots grow in Christ, the stronger we become in trials.
Prayer
Lord, help me stay rooted in You when life is hard. Teach me to obey You, trust You, and grow through every trial. Make my faith strong, my heart thankful, and my life steady in Your truth. Amen.
Minister A Francine Green, September 2026