Sunday Afternoon Tea - Our Need to Deepen our Roots

I have been young but I am older now
And there has been beauty that these eyes have seen.

But it was in the night through the storms of my life
Oh, that's where God proved His love to me.

The anchor holds, Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds, Though the sails are torn.

It has been another week of horrible, terrible, very bad news.  From the disastrous pull out in Afghanistan to a Category 4 hurricane making landfall today, on the anniversary of Katrina... we continue to be surrounded by events that are determined to shake our faith.

But it is not only the big stuff, it seems everyone I talk to have had the little foxes of exhaustion or illness or financial concerns or kids with problems or all kinds of things nipping at their heels.   Planet Earth in the year 2021 has not been an easy place to find peace.

Unless... we know the Prince of Peace.  I keep thinking of something the old farmers used to talk about when I was a kid (who were probably younger than I am now!).  It seems if there is going to be a period of very wet weather, it is better if it is not in Spring for then the crops would not have need to grow their roots deep. For if there came weeks with no rain, they could survive if their roots had grown deep enough in the soil.

I think of that these days when I take the long way into town and view the tall stalks of corn in the fields.  They all look quite strong and healthy.  Just as Jesus gave so many parables based on agriculture, these crops teach me something each time I pass them.  Grow your roots deep to remain strong!

The days in which God decided we should live out our life on this fallen planet are of no surprise to Him.  I am convinced that everything we have gone through in our life prepares us for what He knows we will face and strengthens us a little at a time for our journey.

If... and that is a very big if... we do not give ourselves permission to become bitter, angry, self absorbed, unforgiving, and anything else that would hinder His grace in our healing process.  I think He understands the temporary pity party when we question just how much He thinks we can handle at any one given time.  He just doesn't want us to pull up a sofa, plant flowers, and live in that pity.

Everyone has a story.  There are a few who have told me their suffering is worse than others so they feel that suffering more.  However, as I remind them, every person feels their suffering even if it looks different than ours.  

The woman who seems to not have suffered as much as us could very well have felt such a crushing blow that she needs a lifeline back to God but she will not receive it from someone who thinks their suffering is worse than hers.

You see, He knows how much each one of us can take and the strong person can threaten the faith of the weaker just by their attitude to that person's suffering.  To tell them how much you have suffered and insinuate that their suffering is nothing compared to that is to cut the lifeline that person needs right now.

Not all of us have deep roots... yet.

We live in a time where it seems everything that can be shaken is being shaken and the person who can be a source of peace by leading others to the Prince of Peace is often the person who has suffered the most.  For they have been there and done that and come through it stronger, wiser, with deeper faith realizing that God was there all the time.

That is what our friends and family need to hear in this age.  As everything seems to fall apart, they need to know that the very faith that they mock is the only thing that will bring them peace.  For peace is a Person and true religion is a relationship with Christ.  Not a tradition of our church.  Not how the hymns our mother sang makes us feel all warm and cozy.  Not even our religious leaders.  Only Christ...

The lyrics above are from Ray Boltz's song The Anchor Holds and while I realize I am mixing metaphors... anchors and cornfields... they provide the same mental image for me.  One when I feel like I am drowning in trials and the other when I am walking through the drought of discouragement... but both mean the same.

There is One stronger than I can ever hope to be who strengthens me.  I feel that strength in the storms of life and we are living in a doozy of a storm right now on this planet... and I'm not talking about the hurricane.

Don't worry if you are prone to worry.  Don't be afraid even though you may feel fear.  Open your Bible.  Psalms is often a good place to park in the hurricane force winds of adversity.  Listen to music that will encourage you to trust Him.  Talk to Him as if He is your very best friend... for He is. 

What I have been feeling led to do the most this last year or more is to pray for the country in general but spend most of my time praying for those that God has placed in my circle, those people that sometimes have no one else praying for them.  I pray for my family and close friends as it should be.  I especially have begun praying for my grandchildren and what they may face in the years to come. 

However, I also pray for those who live around me.  Some whose names I know but others only God knows.  When I pray for the family that lives in the house with the red barn, He knows who I am talking about.

I am learning what to do that deepens my roots in Christ and what I do that weakens those roots.  When this culture was different, one could sometimes get along with weak roots.  Not these days... not when it seems the foundations are crumbling.

It is not inevitable that anyone will fail but He will do everything to keep each one of us strong in battle, even if we feel weak.  Let the enemy see Christ in us and not depend on our strength.  Jesus has already won the battle.

Song lyric from The Anchor Holds by Ray Boltz.