For the last few years, I have tried my hand at planting a vegetable garden. I started some of the vegetables indoors from seed before planting them outside. When a seed is placed in good soil, the root emerges first so the seed can obtain the water and nutrients needed to grow the plant. So, when the time comes to transplant the seedlings, I take care not to damage the precious roots that have developed. The small plants above the soil would be no good to me if the roots were damaged in this process. 

In Colossians, Paul encourages us to grow in our faith, being rooted and built up in Christ. Our roots are strengthened as we discover timeless truths about our Saviour and understand the depths of our Father’s love for us. (Read Ephesians 3:17b-19.) And because God never changes (immutability), these truths are the same today just as they were yesterday and will be tomorrow. Our faith roots find security and strength in core truths that will never change. They are eternally constant, despite the conditions around us. 

Just as I protect my seedlings’ roots when transplanting them from indoor pots to the garden outside, we must also protect our faith roots during times of transition. All change brings about varying emotions like joy, grief, excitement, worry, anticipation, and fear, sometimes leaving us feeling confused or unsettled. We may even doubt the new adventure we’ve courageously stepped into. While our instinct might be to run back to where we came from, binge watch shows until the feelings fade away, or pack our schedules so tight we don’t have to feel all the feels, I challenge us to let our faith roots do their work, carefully encouraging them to grow in our new soil. They will remind us of our security in God’s timeless truths and steady our process. Sure, we might look a little wilted at first, but with time, our roots get deeper and nourish us to be better and stronger and eventually bear fruit (or vegetables).