Rethinking the Church | Staying Rooted

7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NRSVUE)

Real fruit trees go through seasons. In spring, they bloom with beautiful flowers. In summer, they're full of green leaves. In fall, they produce fruit. In winter, they look bare and lifeless. But a healthy tree survives all these seasons and continues to produce fruit year after year.

The same is true for spiritual health. A healthy Christian—and a healthy church—doesn't maintain the same level of visible activity and apparent success all the time. There are seasons of growth and seasons that feel more like winter. There are times of abundant fruit and times when growth seems dormant.

What matters isn't whether we're always in a season of obvious flourishing. What matters is whether we have deep roots that keep us connected to our source of life, even when circumstances are difficult.

Jeremiah describes someone whose confidence is in the Lord as being like a tree planted by a stream. The tree doesn't depend on perfect weather conditions because it has a constant source of water. When drought comes—and it will come—the tree doesn't panic because its roots reach down to a reliable water source.

This is what spiritual health looks like during difficult seasons. It's not about maintaining perfect joy or unwavering faith when everything goes wrong. It's about having deep enough roots in God's love and truth that we can survive the storms, the droughts, and the cold seasons that are part of every life.

A healthy church supports people through all seasons of life and faith. It doesn't expect everyone to be in the same place spiritually or emotionally all the time. It recognizes that some people are in spring seasons of new growth, others are in summer seasons of flourishing, some are in fall seasons of harvest, and still others are in winter seasons that feel barren but are actually necessary for future growth.

The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—might look different in different seasons, but healthy trees find ways to demonstrate these characteristics even in difficult times. Someone going through a season of grief might not radiate obvious joy, but they can still show remarkable faithfulness. Someone facing financial stress might not feel peaceful about their circumstances, but they can still demonstrate kindness to others.

The key is staying rooted in God through prayer, community, Scripture, and service, regardless of what season we're experiencing. When our roots go deep, we can weather any storm and continue to bear fruit that nourishes others, even when we don't feel particularly fruitful ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, help us develop deep roots in you that sustain us through every season of life. When we're in seasons of obvious growth and blessing, help us be grateful and generous. When we're in seasons that feel barren or difficult, help us trust that you're still at work in us. Keep us connected to you as our source of life so that we can continue to bear fruit that serves others, regardless of our circumstances. Amen.