Rooted and Built Up

A farmer once planted two trees side by side. One grew tall quickly, its leaves wide and green, but its roots were shallow. The other took longer to grow but developed deep, thick roots. When a storm came, the first tree fell—its beauty couldn’t save it. The second tree bent but stood strong. It had grown deep before it grew tall.

That’s the picture Paul paints in Colossians 2. It’s not enough to simply start our faith journey—we must become rooted and built up in Christ. This means developing a deep, hidden life in God so that when the storms come (and they will), we won’t be shaken.

To be rooted is to grow in the Word, anchored in truth. To be built up is to grow in character and strength, formed over time through discipline, community, and grace. And when we’re rooted in Christ, our lives overflow—not with worry, but with thankfulness.