Deeper Roots

In a vineyard there are two types of grapevines.
The first is watered generously, and bears a lot of fruit for about two to three years. After that it won't bear anymore and the workers have to tear it out and start all over again.

The other only gets watered a little. The vine wants more water, as much as the other vine, but the workers refuse to give it more. They wait until the plant is just about to wilt, and then water it again. This puts a considerable amount of stress on the plant and puts it in a seriously uncomfortable position. The plant must dig its roots deeper into the soil, searching for the natural water that always flows beneath it. And when it finally reaches that water, its roots and leaves are stronger, and bear better fruit, up to 10 years.

Being in uncomfortable times is no fun, but its not a bad thing. Being stressed by your situation is frustrating, but its not the end of the world. In those times God is making you dig your roots deeper, to find that Living Water that is always there. And when we do reach that fount, we're stronger, we're healthier, and we bear fruit longer.

This is a thought from Alyssa Barlow, and it touched my heart. I hate the uncomfortable times when God is teaching me how to work really early, how to persevere through some mundane tasks, and more often than not, patience. I get so frustrated with the stressful times when I have no money, or I have to talk to people I don't want to talk to, or I feel lonely. But because of those lessons, I have deeper roots. I can't stand them when I learn them, but I never regret them after.

So in your dry times, are you digging deeper?



Because I think its worth it.