My steps are slow, unhurried, giving space for my prayers. On these walks, I find myself looking down more than ahead. Noticing the roots of trees that push through the soil, exposed and twisting, searching the earth for nourishment. Roots tell the truth. They reveal what feeds a tree, what anchors it, and whether it will endure season after season.
As I walk, a sobering verse comes to mind:
“Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:9, ESV)
This is not a comforting image, but it is an honest one. God does not merely inspect the branches or admire the leaves. His attention goes straight to the root. Because roots tell the truth. Fruitlessness is not ignored by Him, because fruit gives evidence of life rightly connected to purpose. And yet, somehow this warning carries tender mercy. There is still time to turn, to be nourished, to grow.
Last week snow fell through the night blanketing the trail. Days later remnants still linger near the roots of cactus and low shrubs. In the warmth of sunlight, much of the snow has vanished, but in the shadows it remains. Preserved by the absence of warmth. Seeing snow beside the cactus feels like a contradiction, yet creation clings to it quietly.
Roots Tell the Truth
I see myself out there on the trail. The shadowed places of the heart rooted away from light. The habits and attitudes that resist repentance. God does not call us to remain in those cold pockets of shade. He calls us into the steady light of His love.
Snow melts when it meets the sun. Roots strengthen when they draw from living water. Fruit grows when a life is nourished, honest, and aligned with God. As I walk and pray, I am reminded that God’s warning is also an invitation: step into the light, and grow in alignment with Him.
* For those of you who prayer walk, ponder the phrase, ‘Roots tell the Truth’ as you walk. Listen closely to what the Holy Spirit reveals. For this week’s screensaver click here. To access my newest YouVersion Bible App devotional plan click here.