Hello ,

Growth is not always visible.

In fact, some of the most important growth happens where no one can see it.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river” (Jeremiah 17:7–8).

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him” (Colossians 2:6–7).

Notice the order: rooted, then built up.

We often admire what rises above the ground—the visible strength, the confidence, the influence. But healthy growth begins below the surface. 

Roots deepen long before branches widen.

In 1977, a team of botanists studying giant sequoia trees in California made a surprising discovery. These towering trees—some over 250 feet tall—do not have extremely deep roots. Instead, their strength comes from wide, interconnected root systems that spread out and intertwine with the roots of neighboring trees.

Their stability comes from connection and steady nourishment, not dramatic depth alone. Storms that would topple isolated trees rarely bring down a sequoia forest.

The life of faith works the same way.

We sometimes expect immediate outward change—instant clarity, instant strength, instant transformation. But God often begins by growing roots: deeper trust, quiet humility, steady dependence.

Those roots are formed through daily practices that may seem ordinary—Scripture read slowly, prayer spoken honestly, moments of reflection that recalibrate the heart.

They are not flashy.

But they anchor the soul.

Jeremiah’s promise is not that drought will never come. It is that a rooted life does not collapse when it does. The leaves remain green. The tree continues to bear fruit because the source of life is deeper than the surface conditions.

If you feel like your growth has been slow lately, take heart. God may be strengthening the unseen parts of your life.

Roots first.

Because when the winds eventually rise—and they will—it is the unseen work beneath the surface that allows the tree to stand.

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word