How to stay Standing

This summer we wanted to plant a tree in our yard, not knowing a thing about planting trees we asked at the gardening centre the best way to do it. The man told us how he and his neighbour had planted the same trees on their properties. His neighbour staked each tree individually to hold them straight in the ground whereas he had simply planted his. The trees grew looking the same.

Then a storm came through, high winds hit, and his neighbour’s trees were destroyed – some breaking off at the base and others were uprooted entirely. His own trees remained standing. Why? Trees that are staked do not deep root themselves. Their roots are shallow, running near the top of the surface as they can rely on something else to hold them up. Those that are not staked are required to rely on their innate design and deep root themselves.

Inevitably we can spend a good portion of our time comparing what our lives look like to others, making sure they look the same, but what do our lives look like when a storm comes?
Do we rely on someone or something else to prop us up? Do we rely on someone or something else to do the job that we are innately designed for?
We can all strive to look the same but when hardship comes we truly see what we look like – do we stand or do we fall? It’s what is under our surface that will determine the answer for it’s what is under the surface that is of real importance.
 

We are called to do what we have been designed for by our Heavenly Father and when we do what we are called to do, we do not require staking from others, we do not rely on being propped up by bad habits or vices.
Deep root yourself through His Word. Deep root yourself through the knowledge that His Grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Deep root yourself through faith, knowing that you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:4) for this will enable you to withstand any storm.
 

I don’t know about you, but I want to be standing after the storm and God wants you standing too.

Kath is married to Scotty and they reside in the Manawatu with their 5 boys aged from 4 months to 14 years old. Kath's desire is to see women not only supporting each other in their daily life but also championing each other on their Christian walk.
She is the Chairperson on their local Christian Kindergarten Trust Board and encourages her family to be a part of serving teams at their church regardless of their age.