Rooted in Christ, Growing Through Life

Two months ago, an Instagram post from Be Rooted Collectives encouraged me to reflect on what I believe it means to “be rooted.” My response was: “having a strong foundation in Christ, growing and evolving to become the person He wants me to be, and extending myself to positively influence those around me.” The simplicity of the question made me wonder why it took me so long to answer, and through reflection, I realized my connection to the concept runs deeper than I initially thought. While my definition has not changed, my understanding of it has expanded, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share what being rooted means to me.

God Planted Me: A Strong Foundation in Christ

I believe God planted me, well, really, all of us. Before we were even conceived, I believe there was intentional thought put into where exactly God would plant each of our seeds. Our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and more were all divinely predetermined before our earthly existence. 

Through the family I was born into, I have been blessed with positive familial influences who are firmly rooted in Christ. I am reminded of Proverbs 22:6 and how, fortunately, I received strong spiritual guidance that grounded and kept me grounded in faith. At ten years old, I decided to give my life to Christ. At the time, I did not realize the magnitude of that decision or how Christ would truly serve as my firm foundation in all of life’s moments to come. 

In my life, I have experienced moments filled with immense joy, love, laughter, and accomplishments. I have also walked through seasons of immense grief, heartbreak, anxiety, and fear. There were moments when I felt less firmly rooted, but looking back, even those seasons contributed to my growth, and I now see how they ultimately shaped me.

Through it all, I have leaned firmly on my faith in Jesus, and I attribute every success and every trial to Him. As I continue through life, I can confidently say that I understand the gravity of being grounded in faith and allowing my relationship with Christ to carry me and sustain me, no matter the circumstances.

God Cultivates Me

As a gardener cultivates their garden, God cultivates me. While I was blessed to have a strong foundation of faith at a relatively young age, it is important that my 24-year-old self continues to build on that foundation. Through growing my relationship with Christ, I have seen the ways I have been cultivated thus far.

1. He develops me spiritually.

   I have made it a priority to take initiative over developing my personal relationship with Christ. For me, this has manifested in a greater focus on prayer, quiet time with Christ, church attendance, Bible reading, listening to gospel music, and engaging with my community. My growth in these areas has resulted in a heart transformation.

2. He develops me physically.

   I have made it a priority to move my body more consistently and be mindful of what I put into it. This intention allows me to honor the body God has given me and equips me to pursue His purpose daily.

3. He develops me mentally and emotionally.

   Through journaling, I have found an avenue that allows me to carry out thoughtful introspection in silence. This brings me serenity. I also utilize therapy services, which require me to be vulnerable and open with a third party. This, too, brings me serenity. These practices help me navigate life’s challenges with a clear and focused mind.

I believe each of these aspects of my life is important and intertwined, as they allow me to be equipped to successfully walk in the purpose God has for my life. 

I believe that God carefully cultivates me – not oversaturating me or exposing me to too much sunlight, as a plant can die that way. Instead, He gives me everything I need to grow. Each success and trial has been used for my cultivation, and like a flower, I have risen from the soil and grown upwards toward the sun. God continues to cultivate me daily so I may continue to flourish, and for that I am grateful.

Keep Growing and Keep Going!

As I continue to flourish and grow upwards and outwards, my leaves touch others, and theirs touch mine. My roots extend to others, and theirs extend to mine. This allows me to give and receive abundantly with those whom God has placed in my life. To me, this speaks to the importance of community, where each connection nourishes and strengthens us. You can say or do something that changes someone’s life, or you can be on the receiving end and be transformed. So, I encourage us all to value community and touch as many lives as we can. 

My prayer is that God continues to expand my roots so I may serve others. I hope to be a light in their lives just as others have been for me. I know God will continue to keep me rooted in Him, so I will keep growing. I encourage everyone to stay rooted in faith, whatever that may be, and allow your roots to extend far beyond yourself. Through community, your roots extend far beyond the precise location God planted you. 

Remember that growth is an ongoing, yet sometimes painful process, and produces a beautiful outcome. As long as we stay rooted, we will continue to rise towards the sun, surrounded by those growing alongside us.