When our children have grown strong roots into Jesus as their foundation, their faith will grow strong in the truth they’ve been taught. Then they will overflow with the fruit of thankfulness! Let’s remind ourselves of what Colossians 2:6-7 says,
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Strong Faith
Picture a tall tree blowing around in the wind. Part of what makes that tree strong is the wind, forcing the roots to grow deeper into the foundation and stabilizing the rest of the tree.
When our children are faced with the trials and troubles of this life, it’s like the wind blowing them and they have the opportunity to become stronger in their relationships with Christ by digging deeper into His truth no matter their feelings about the situation they’re in.
I don’t pray for my children to face trials, so they’ll become stronger. The trials will come. I pray they’ll dig deeper into Jesus when the trials do come. He is faithful and will give them the strength they need when they need it.
Overflowing with Thankfulness
The fruit that is born of deep roots and strength from trials (a strong trunk and branches) is thankfulness. When God has seen us through stormy times and has given us the strength we needed to endure, thankfulness tends to flow from us. May our children be thankful, bearing fruit to nourish others. May they see storms and tough circumstances as opportunities to trust our faithful and ever-present God, bearing the fruit of thankfulness.
The next time you eat a cherry, think of the seed that was planted to grow the tree that cherry came from. Think of the roots that grew deep to stabilize the tree, giving it nourishment to grow strong branches, leaves, blossoms, and finally that cherry.
Yes, there are pits in cherries, but those pits make the cherry that much more delicious and give hope for more cherry trees to be planted. Hard times in our children’s lives are the pits, but when they rely on God to give them strength, the result of their endurance is sweet, and those pits may plant other seeds to grow other trees and encourage others’ lives! Thankfully, God is faithful and will complete what He started. What He sows in us, will reap a harvest.
Spend some time praying for your children to grow strong by relying on God no matter what they face, bearing the fruit of thankfulness.