(This is the first part of a new blog series, “What Women Need,” at perfectionroad.com. Over the next four weeks, we will continue exploring essential needs every woman has. We’ll start here today at the very foundation and build upward. I pray this new series will bless your hearts.)
What Women Need: Roots
Squeals of delight fill the air whenever a toddler learns to blow on a dandelion. Their chubby little cheeks huff and puff, sending tiny white tufts floating on the breeze. Dandelions in a toddler’s hands are delightful, but dandelions popping up in a well-manicured lawn? Not so delightful.
One quickly realizes that the best way to remove dandelions is to dig them out. When we do, we discover a long, thin root that’s tough to get to the bottom of. It’s called a taproot. It sends out smaller, hairy roots to absorb much-needed nutrients and water. These roots give the plant stability, making it harder to pull out with just your bare hands. If I were a dandelion, I’d want a big ol’ taproot to hold me securely in place and keep me hydrated and well-fed.
That’s what most women want—security. We need to feel safe physically, emotionally, and financially, and trust that our relationships are stable. We may work hard to achieve security by putting down roots in a specific town. Deep generational roots can help strong families bloom. Steady careers may give us a sense of financial security. Our spirits are encouraged by being rooted in a church family. We may even feel more confident and secure when our gray roots get a dose of hair color. (Maybe that’s just me.)
However, our spirits wither when rooted in unhealthy habits, negative emotions, costly expenses, and messy relationships. But as we allow our taproots to grow deep into Jesus, we find that He is the only One strong enough to keep us grounded. With Him holding us secure, we can let circumstances swirl and Satan tug on us with all his might, and we will still stand firm.
Paul said it this way, “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 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 NLT)
Just for fun, do you know which plant has the longest taproot? I looked it up. Its scientific name is Boscia albitrunca. (Yeah, say that fast three times!) It grows in the arid desert of South Africa and has a taproot that extends a whopping 230 feet. You won’t believe its common name — it’s the Shepherd’s Tree! Shepherds take their flocks of goats and sheep to this tree to find relief from the hot sun. But that’s not all! Since most parts of the tree benefit humans and animals in some way, people in South Africa call it the Tree of Life! Remarkably, Jesus, the Great Shepherd, created this tree of life with the longest taproot in the world to survive and thrive in the driest and harshest conditions! Being rooted in Him does the same for us.
Being rooted in the heart of Jesus allows us to soak up Living Water while the Bread of Life nourishes our souls. The more our roots grow, the more established and secure we become. When stormy winds blow, we stand firm and find shelter beneath the gracefully outstretched branches of the Tree of Life.
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:16-18 NLT)
(If you’d like to continue this journey, I’d be honored to have you join me by email at www.perfectionroad.com/blog.)
Donna Jackson
Lean into Jesus Ministries
Perfection Road