Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement

Yesterday, I went for a walk down to the bay and spent some time in prayer and meditation. While there, I noticed a tree with its roots exposed several feet down. As I reflected on what I saw, I felt the Lord speaking to my heart, reminding me that in life and this fallen world, we face challenges from the forces of evil, all of which attempt to erode our joy, peace, and love. These attacks often come in the form of deception, distraction, and discouragement. Lately, pain has been the biggest distraction in my life. The enemy uses these tactics to harm us, and we are most vulnerable to them when we are isolated, so it’s crucial to be aware of these tactics and to make sure we are connected to a community of faith. Divine encounters with God and life-changing connections are our strongest defense against these attacks.

As I observed the erosion around the tree, I remembered reading about the largest organism in the world: a tree root system belonging to “Pando,” an aspen tree cluster in Utah’s Fishlake National Forest. It consists of over 47,000 trees connected by a single root system. “Pando” comes from the Latin word “I spread” and covers 106 acres, weighing over 13.2 million pounds. The root system is estimated to have originated from a single seed at the end of the last ice age, and some of the trees are over 130 years old.

Like the aspen trees, we must spread and learn how to cultivate deep and outstretching roots with our closest friends and community, for it is through these connections that we find hope and encouragement. We need people in our lives who are not envious, threatened, or intimidated by us. Betrayal is a deep wound, and anyone threatened by your success is a betrayal waiting to happen.

We need friends who are committed to growth and are eager to learn, grow, and develop. These are the kind of people who will inspire and motivate us to be our best selves. People with no personal growth plan often expect us to do their growth for them, so choose someone who shares your purpose and passions. Surround yourself with people who share your drive for development and improvement.

Choose friends who value community and connection. In Scripture, David and Jonathan were so close that they exchanged armor and weapons. They had a “covenant” relationship and decided to defend each other for as long as they lived. David even blessed a son of Jonathan long after Jonathan had died in battle. These roots of friendship will hold you up in a storm or a flood, and they provide the support and understanding we all need in our lives.

Choose someone who has long-standing friendships. Some people leave behind a trail of destructive relationships. We need people who have demonstrated loyalty and longevity. We need aspen trees in our lives, not trees that snap off or are blown down. We need deep, interconnected roots and friends who share these values. Search carefully for your friends. God has them for you. Find them, value them, connect with them, stay with them, and spread with them. This is what Jesus did, and He built the greatest kingdom in the world. I hope that speaks to you, and I pray you have a blessed day!