This spring in Minnesota was one of the wettest I can remember in years. The rain seemed almost relentless—but no one was complaining. After seasons of watching lake levels fall and our water table decline, it was exactly what we needed. Our creeks filled, our lakes rose, and the countryside burst into life. Everywhere you looked, the grass was emerald green, the trees were flourishing, and it seemed as though all of creation had been refreshed.
Then July arrived. For days on end, temperatures climbed into the 90s and even touched 100 degrees. To make matters worse, strong winds accompanied the heat, drying everything even faster. Though we’ve had an occasional shower, it hasn’t been nearly enough to keep up with the scorching days. I’ve found myself praying for rain, trusting that God always hears the prayers we pray in harmony with His will.
As I drove home one afternoon, I looked around and noticed something striking. Just a week or two earlier, everything had been green. Now, lawns throughout the city had turned brown. The grass looked dry and lifeless. Yet the trees remained green, healthy, and full of life. Immediately I knew why. The spring rains had soaked deep into the ground, and the roots of those mature trees had reached that hidden supply of water. While the surface had become dry, the trees were still drawing life from a source far below what the eye could see.
That simple picture reminded me of our walk with Christ. Some believers are like the grass. Their faith depends largely on what’s happening around them. When life is pleasant and blessings abound, they seem vibrant and full of joy. But when the heat of disappointment, financial hardship, sickness, family struggles, unanswered prayers, or unexpected trials arrives, their faith begins to fade. It’s not because God has abandoned them. Rather, the difficult season reveals that their roots have never grown very deep.
Then there are those whose roots run deep into Christ. Over the years they’ve quietly cultivated a life of prayer. They’ve filled their hearts with God’s Word. They’ve learned to trust His promises even when circumstances seemed to say otherwise. Their relationship with the Lord isn’t sustained by emotion alone but by a settled confidence in His character and faithfulness. When difficult seasons come—and they do come—they certainly feel the heat. They experience sorrow, disappointment, and pain just like everyone else. Yet they don’t lose heart because they’re drawing strength from a source the world cannot see.
As I continued driving, another thought came to me. The heat didn’t create the difference between the grass and the tree. The heat simply revealed it. Both experienced the same blazing sun, the same hot wind, and the same lack of rain. The difference wasn’t the weather; it was the depth of their roots.
I smiled as another illustration came to mind. My own lawn has an irrigation system. Even when the skies don’t provide rain, there’s another source continually supplying water to keep the grass healthy. God has provided something even greater for His children. His Word refreshes us daily. Prayer keeps us connected to Him. Worship lifts our eyes above our circumstances, and the Holy Spirit continually pours life into those who remain close to Christ. We don’t have to survive on yesterday’s blessing or wait for the next spiritual “rainstorm.” God invites us to draw from Him every single day.
Jeremiah painted this picture beautifully centuries ago:
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7–8, NIV)
I love what this passage does not say. It doesn’t promise that the heat will never come. It promises that those whose roots are planted deeply in the Lord don’t have to fear when it does. Trials don’t determine the strength of our faith; they reveal it.
So perhaps the better question isn’t, “How hot is the trial I’m facing?” Instead, we should ask ourselves, “How deeply have I allowed my roots to grow in Christ?” If we’ll stay close to Him—drawing daily from His Word, His presence, and His promises—we’ll discover that even when everything around us seems dry, our souls can remain green, fruitful, and full of life because our roots have reached the Living Water.
Colossians 2:6–7, NIV “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being the source of strength that never runs dry. Help me to send my roots deep into Your Word, Your promises, and Your presence. Teach me to seek You daily, not just when life is difficult. When the heat of trials comes, let my faith remain steady because my life is anchored in You. May others see the peace, hope, and fruit that come from a life deeply rooted in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
