The Roots Are Still Working

A friend sent me a picture of a tree on Monday.

At first glance, it looked like any other tree. Its branches stretched in different directions. Some reached high. Others extended wide. Each branch seemed to be following its own path.

Then she shared what God had revealed to her.

The branches were growing in different directions, but the roots were the same.

As I sat with those words, my mind immediately went to scripture:

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Psalm 1:3

I have read that scripture many times, but this time something different stood out.

A tree does not produce fruit in every season.

It produces fruit in its season.

That may seem obvious, but many of us live as though every season should look fruitful. We expect visible results. We expect evidence. We expect something we can point to and say, “See, God is working.”

But what happens when the fruit is not visible?

What happens when the season feels quiet?

What happens when the branches seem to be stretching in directions we do not fully understand?

That is where the mystery lives.

Because the scripture does not stop at fruit.

It says, “His leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

The promise was never that fruit would be visible in every season.

The promise was that the tree would remain planted.

The promise was that it would remain nourished.

The promise was that it would prosper.

Perhaps we have misunderstood prosperity.

Perhaps prosperity is not always what appears above the ground.

Perhaps prosperity is what God is doing beneath the surface.

Roots do not receive applause.

Roots are hidden.

Roots work in silence.

Roots grow deeper before branches grow wider.

Roots strengthen before fruit appears.

And while everyone is looking for fruit, God may be developing roots.

That is what I saw when I looked at the tree.

Not the branches.

Not the directions.

Not even the fruit.

I saw a tree that was still standing.

A tree that was still connected to its source.

A tree that was still being nourished.

A tree whose roots were still working.

Maybe that is the lesson for this season.

Just because you do not see fruit does not mean nothing is happening.

Just because the season looks different does not mean God has stopped working.

Just because the branches are stretching in unfamiliar directions does not mean the roots have lost their source.

The roots are still working.

And perhaps that is enough reason to trust the season.

Because fruit is seasonal.

But a life planted in God continues to prosper.

Even when the roots are the only evidence of growth.

THE ROOTS ARE STILL WORKING!

Journey Through the Seasons With Me

To Everything There is a Season.

It’s Your Season Go and Live!

-Dr. Tasheka L. Green