Send Your Roots

My body was filled with panic as I rode in the back of an ambulance with my two-year-old son after calling 911 because he stopped breathing while napping. We made it to the hospital and he became stable but we still had a lengthy hospital stay ahead of us.

Along with praying for healing for my son, I was specifically praying for my mental health because I knew I couldn’t get through this without God’s strength. I was scared that the fear and worry would become crippling. My mind was filled with worry and my heart was racing during the ride to the hospital.

​However, I can say that once I prayed and reached out to friends to join me in prayer my body shifted from panic to peace. All the ‘what ifs’ slowed down, my body started to relax and I vividly remember sitting in his hospital room and realizing that I truly had peace in the midst of the chaos.

Jeremiah states that those who trust in the Lord will “be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream” (Jer. 17:8). This tree is enriched with resources no matter what happens because it sends its roots to the water source. Just like a tree by a river has a continual source of water we too have a constant supply of the living water when we believe in Jesus.

Investing our time with Jesus allows us to be rooted in the Living Water who provides all the resources we need. This tree is rooted in and has all the resources it needs no matter what happens, just like I had peace that day in the hospital. I knew that no matter what was happening, God was in control. I knew this because I had been growing in my relationship with Him by investing daily in prayer and reading my Bible.

​“In this world [we] will have trouble,” but Jesus says “Take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We can hold onto the peace that comes from knowing our good God is still in control by investing in our relationship daily. We can cry out to God when the worries mount and have faith knowing that He will hear our cry. As the world becomes more and more unstable, it’s easy to get sucked into the storm of fear and worry. But today I challenge you to send your roots to the stream instead. Invest in your relationship with Jesus and know that He will enrich you with the resources you need.

““This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NIV)

About the Author

Hi, I’m Jessica Parker! I’m married to my incredible husband, Phil, and together we have two beautiful kids. My husband is an Army veteran so we have moved around a bit but now live in beautiful North Georgia. I enjoy reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. I can testify to how life changing walking with Jesus and being in His word daily can be. Therefore I am passionate about helping women find a life giving community and learn more about God's love for them.