“If you feel like you’re losing everything, remember that trees lose their leaves every year and still they stand tall and wait for better days to come.”

After waking up to snow yesterday morning and more this morning, I was reminded of this quote a dear praying friend had sent me. I looked out at all the beautiful snow that covered the trees. Just a short while ago these trees stood with bright green leaves before the temperature dropped. Once temperatures start dropping the leaves change color, start withering, and eventually fall to the ground (for some fun piling up and jumping into- haha). After the frigid temperatures, sunshine will shine brightly and warmly, transforming those empty branches for beautiful blooms.
Tree branches grow tall to the point they have to be pruned, topped, or cut away. Trees withstand snow on their branches bending them downward. They also endure strong winds that toss their branches to and fro. One thing in all this remains true, they stay rooted. Underneath into the ground are strong roots going in all different directions helping that tree stand tall and firm in all the elements of weather/storms it must endure.
A tree can also be similar to a person rooted in Christ. Christians face storms in all areas of life. Storms that come to test us, challenge us, and to build our faith. Storms can come to wean us from this temporary life of fleeting pleasures, and make us yearn for our eternal state and to become like Christ. They can be God-sent discipline to turn us away from our life of sin to get back on the path He has for us (Hebrews 12:6-11). Storms show us just how much God is able to be our strength, that He alone is the ONE true source of joy, that He is unmovable.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:3

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:8

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colossian 2:7

God will prune us if we are not producing fruit.

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:2-6

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:17-21

He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. Luke 6:48

Put on the full armor of Christ daily (Ephesians 6:11-18) so you will be able to withstand the storms that come to disrupt (but sometimes make a better way Romans 8:28) for your life. Jesus defeated the enemy in His time of testing with the Word (Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus tested in the wilderness). Gods Word is sharper than a two edged sword and will not return to Him void.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Give God more worship to make your branches be able to dance in the winds of storms instead of being withered and snapped. Roots become stronger when nourished, just like our faith… we need to be in the Holy Bible to grow our roots in Christ stronger and to endure what weather is sent to us. God is unmovable. He is steadfast. He is the root that anchors us down and helps us stand tall through the storms of life.

Become rooted in Christ. He will be your source of strength.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Are you rooted in Christ? Choose this day whom you will serve, never know when Jesus will call His children home.

*BLESSED*BETSY*