Rooted

Life is unpredictable.

That’s why it’s so important to put your roots in Christ.

I finally bought the book Rooted by Banning Liebscher. I’ve had my eye on it for a couple of months and finally caved in and bought it last week. I have only read a couple of chapters but it is about the hidden places where God develops you. The book focuses on slowing down and letting God root you.

Philippians is one of my favorite books in the Bible. One of the verses everyone knows is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” In chapter two, this book talks about the verses right before that infamous verse. Philippians 4:11-12, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” I really like how the book explained those verses,

“When we put ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ in context, we see that Paul was saying, “‘I’ve had seasons in life where I’ve had nothing and seasons where I’ve had everything. I’ve developed the ability to thrive in both seasons by learning to access the resource that never changes, no matter the season, namely, Christ’s strength.’”

My instinct is to run when things get tough. That way is easy and comfortable, but growth isn’t easy or comfortable. In order to grow and to grow through Christ, you have to root yourself in Him and where you are now.

I have spent twelve years trying to run away from Indiana, and five of those trying to run away from Indiana Wesleyan University. Flash forward, IWU saved me. I was running away from what God knew and had planned to help me GROW and shape who I am.

Marion really has become my home and one of my favorite places in the entire world. I have rooted myself in this community, but only when in my heart I chose to. That’s the same with our relationship with God. We have to be willing to get to know Him and let Him take control and take care of us.

I have had a lot of heartbreak in Indiana but I have been loved ten times over. This is where I found God and where I fell in love…with people, life, and myself.

I learned how to love myself here in Marion, Indiana. I learned how to communicate. I learned compassion. I learned how to feel like an actual human being.

Invest in God. Invest in your community. Invest in yourself.