The little sapling struggled to survive. He was a straggly little thing looking more like Charlie Brown's forlorn Christmas tree than the tall evergreens surrounding him. He felt so small and insignificant in the world of giants around him. Yet, they encouraged him; they didn't seem to think he was that small. His brothers kept telling him to wait and see how he would grow. But he wanted to be big NOW. He wanted to feel the breezes high in the sky that tickled the tallest of pines. He wanted to be able to feel the warmth of the sun unfiltered through the canopy.  He just didn't understand why he had to be so small.
During one of his many diatribes about how unfair his life was, the oldest tree in the woods growled through the thickets. “Little one,” he said, “how do you think I began this journey of life?”
The little tree couldn't answer. He had been so busy feeling sorry for himself, he had not bothered to think about anyone or anything else. “I … I …. I don't know,” he stammered.
“Where do you begin, Little One?”
“Hmm, my roots?”
“Yes,” the Old One answered, “if you have no roots, you cannot grow tall. You would sway with each breeze and be uprooted with the first storm of spring. You cannot begin to grow up until you develop your roots. You must dig deep and hold on to the ground beneath you. The deeper your roots, the taller you will stand. You will be able to bend with the wind and yet shelter the birds of the air. Growing helps you have patience when water is scarce. Growing shows others that they, too, can be just as tall as their roots allow them to be. “
Being firmly rooted in Christ is a lifetime process. He allows things to occur in our lives in order for us to mature in Him. When trials come, we must dig firmly in His word and have faith in His promises. Growing roots takes faith, trust, love, and the knowledge God works all things for our good. How deep are your roots?
“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Eph 3:16-18).