Spiritual maturity begins beneath the surface.
Colossians 2:7 (NLT)
“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
When we look at a beautiful tree standing tall or a plant covered with colorful blooms, we don’t usually think about what’s going on underneath the ground. We’re just admiring what we can see! But there’s a whole lot happening beneath that soil that makes everything above it possible. We need to pay attention to the fact that God designed roots to draw in the water and nutrients that plants need to live and grow. Heavenly Father doesn’t want that to slip by us, because He’s placed lessons about spiritual growth right there in His creation? We can learn a great deal about our relationship with Jesus Christ just by paying attention to how He designed things to grow.
The roots of many plants are hidden beneath the ground, but that doesn’t mean they’re not doing something important. Those roots are growing, spreading, and helping to establish the plant. Our spiritual lives work in a similar way. Our hearts and minds are like the things beneath the ground; they can’t be easily viewed by other people, but the evidence of what is in them can be known by our actions, attitudes, and behaviors.
We should also know that there are things that must take place within our hearts and minds before the evidence of spiritual maturity becomes visible in our lives. We can’t expect to have strong faith, godly character, or the ability to stand when trouble comes if we’re not spending time in God’s Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us. Colossians 2:7 tells us to let our roots grow down into Christ. That’s not something we do once and then move on to something else. Growing in Christ is the work of a lifetime.
Think about it for a minute. Nobody has to walk up to a healthy plant and ask, “Are you okay, Mr. Plant? Do you have everything you need to produce those beautiful flowers?” Of course not! We can see the evidence of its growth. The same should be true of us as we mature spiritually. The more we learn about Jesus Christ, obey His Word, and surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit, the more our attitudes and actions should reflect His character. Galatians 5:22–23 (NLT) tells us, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These qualities are produced by the Holy Spirit. We can’t develop them simply by trying harder or relying on our own strength. They are the fruit of His work in us as we surrender to Him and allow Him to have His way in our lives.
Now, having deep spiritual roots doesn’t mean we’re not going to face trouble. Trees with strong roots still have to endure storms, and the same is true for us as believers. Loving the Lord and walking faithfully with Him doesn’t mean we’ll be exempt from difficulties. Jesus made that clear in John 16:33 (NLT) when He said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” The good news is that when our lives are rooted in Christ, we have something to hold on to when trouble comes. We may not always understand what God is doing or why we’re going through certain things, but we can trust Him even when we don’t have the answers. And when our faith is being tested, that’s not the time to drift away from God’s Word. That’s when we need to hold on to it even more, allowing His truth to keep us grounded and help us stand firm.
Abraham gives us a great example of faith that grows strong through trusting God. Romans 4:20–21 (ESV) tells us, “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” Abraham wasn’t trusting in what he could see or accomplish through his own ability. He was trusting the One who had made the promise. That’s the kind of faith we should desire. Whether we’re making decisions about relationships, dealing with disappointments, waiting for direction, or facing circumstances beyond our control, our confidence must remain in the Lord. Spiritual maturity doesn’t mean we have all the answers. It means we’re learning to trust the One who does.
There’s something else we shouldn’t overlook. A plant doesn’t become fully grown overnight, and neither do we. Sometimes we’re so concerned about what we want God to do for us that we neglect what He wants to do within us. We want the blessing, the answer, the breakthrough, or the next season of our lives, but God wants us to keep growing in our relationship with Him. He wants our hearts to become more like the heart of Jesus Christ. So don’t become discouraged because you haven’t reached the level of spiritual maturity you desire. Keep spending time in God’s Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to work within you. Keep praying. Keep obeying what He’s teaching you, and keep yielding to the Holy Spirit. The growth taking place within you is important, even when you can’t see everything God is doing within.
A CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your precious Son, Jesus Christ, and for everything You’ve made available to me through Him. Father, I know that growing in Christ is a lifelong journey, and I want to keep growing stronger in my faith and in my relationship with You. Help me to recognize the things in my heart and mind that need to change. I don’t want to just know Your Word; I want to live by it. Teach me to trust You more, especially when things aren’t going the way I expected or when life gets difficult. Let my roots grow deep in Christ so that I’m not easily shaken by the troubles of this world. Please continue to work within me through Your Holy Spirit. Help me to renew my mind, surrender to Your Will, and grow in the kind of character that pleases You. Father, thank You for being patient with me as I grow. Thank You for never giving up on me and for loving me through every season of my life. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen. ■
Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“ROOTED IN CHRIST — Growing Strong Where No One Can See”, written by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to encouraging and inspiring Christian Women to live boldly through God’s Word.
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