This post is from my message Deep Roots. Listen to the full message with presentation HERE

How to Stay Standing When Everything Around You Is Shaken

As we are making our way in this new year, my prayer is simple:

Lord, strengthen us.
Help us grow deeper than we ever have before.
Root us so firmly in You that nothing can destroy us.

Because the truth is — life does not stay calm.

There will be shaking.
There will be fire.
There will be seasons that test what we are made of.

The question is not if storms will come.

The question is: Will our roots be deep enough to survive them?

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The Tree That Changed How I See Resilience

A few years ago, my family traveled to Maui for a wedding. It was one of those full-circle moments that make you emotional — a former flower girl from my own wedding getting married, my husband officiating, my children participating. It was beautiful.

While we were there, we visited Lahaina and saw something that left a lasting impression on me: the Lahaina banyan tree.

At first glance, it looks like an entire grove of trees. But it’s not. It’s one single tree.

Banyan trees send their roots down from their branches. Those roots grow into the ground, become trunks, and spread outward. What appears to be multiple trees is actually one deeply connected root system.

This particular tree was planted in 1873. It started as an eight-foot sapling. Over 150 years, it grew to cover nearly two acres.

Then in 2023, wildfires devastated Lahaina. Buildings were destroyed. Over 100 lives were lost. Entire blocks were reduced to ash.

The banyan tree looked like it had been burned to a shell.

But in 2024, something incredible happened.

Leaves began to grow again.

Why?

Because the roots were still alive.

The portions of the root system that survived underground began strengthening the damaged areas. Life returned, not because there wasn’t real destruction, but because what was hidden beneath the surface was strong.

And I felt the Holy Spirit whisper:

This is what My people need.

Not surface strength.
Not emotional hype.
Not temporary motivation.

We need roots.

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What the Bible Says About Roots

Paul writes in Ephesians:

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”
— Ephesians 3:16–17 (NLT)

Your roots will grow.

Proverbs says it plainly:

“Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.”
— Proverbs 12:3 (NLT)

Stability comes from depth.

Not visibility.
Not popularity.
Not productivity.

Depth.

So how do we grow deep roots in 2026?

God showed me four things.

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1. Discipline

Discipline is not restriction — it is preparation.

Hebrews tells us:

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
— Hebrews 12:11

Spiritual discipline is not about checking religious boxes.

It’s about building habits that steady your steps before life gets chaotic.

Going to church regularly.
Reading your Bible consistently.
Serving faithfully.
Practicing self-control.

These are not burdens. They are stabilizers.

Many people drop spiritual habits when life gets busy. But that’s when we need them most.

Discipline means making decisions before the crisis comes.

You don’t wait until you need strength to start building it.

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2. Education (Biblical Literacy)

We live in a time where people consume snippets of Scripture but rarely read the whole story.

Imagine trying to play in a championship game without knowing the playbook.

You wouldn’t even make it onto the field.

The same is true spiritually.

If we don’t know the Word for ourselves, we cannot discern truth from something that merely sounds spiritual.

Proverbs says:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
— Proverbs 1:7

Messages are wonderful. Podcasts are helpful. Devotionals are encouraging.

But nothing replaces reading the Bible yourself.

Not just verses.
Not just highlights.
The whole counsel of God.

If we want deep roots, we must go deeper than surface inspiration.

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3. Execution (Doing the Word)

It is not enough to hear Scripture. We must live it.

James writes:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
— James 1:22–24

If we look in a mirror and immediately forget what we saw, nothing changes.

In the same way, if we hear truth and do nothing with it, our roots stay shallow.

We cannot claim to love God and refuse to love our neighbor.
We cannot speak faith and live in constant compromise.
We cannot claim integrity and behave differently when no one is watching.

Execution is obedience in action.

This is where depth forms.

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4. Prayer

Without prayer, none of the other disciplines hold.

Prayer is not a last resort. It is a lifestyle.

Scripture says:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Prayer is ongoing connection.

It’s not just calling on God in crisis.

It’s thanking Him when things are good.
Asking for guidance in small decisions.
Letting Him interrupt your plans.

Sometimes we become so rigid in our schedules that we forget to ask God what He actually wants us to do that day.

Deep roots require conversation with the One who planted you.

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What Keeps Roots Shallow?

If we want depth, we must remove what prevents it.

Distractions

We say we don’t have time, but often we are simply distracted.

If something consistently pulls you away from growth, it needs boundaries — or removal.

1 Corinthians 7:35 says:

“I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.”

Sin and Weight

Hebrews 12:1 reminds us:

“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.”

Sin doesn’t just offend God — it corrodes us from the inside.

Excuses

Excuses build the house of failure.

When God invites us to grow, we cannot respond with “someday.”

Procrastination

Ecclesiastes says:

“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.”
— Ecclesiastes 11:4

There is never a perfect time.

If you’re waiting for calm, for quiet, for ideal circumstances — you will wait forever.

Depth begins today.

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The Promise for the Rooted

Jeremiah gives us this promise:

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord… 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 17:7–8

Notice what it does not say.

It does not say heat won’t come.
It does not say drought won’t happen.

It says the rooted tree does not fear it.

Because depth removes fear.

The enemy will do what he does — steal, kill, destroy.

But when you are rooted in Christ, you know something deeper than circumstance:

You know you will survive the fire.

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This Year

This year, let’s not just aim for productivity.

Let’s aim for depth.

Let’s grow roots through discipline.
Through biblical education.
Through obedience.
Through prayer.

Because when everything around us is shaken…

We will still be standing.

And we will still bear fruit.

This post is from my message The Harvest. Listen to the full message with presentation HERE

Lately, God has been pressing something on my heart in a way I cannot ignore. You know those seasons where you feel like the Lord is highlighting one message, and then you keep hearing it everywhere. In songs. In sermons. In conversations. In your quiet time. It is as if He is underlining the same sentence until you finally say, “Okay, I hear You.” That is where I have been.

And the word that keeps showing up for me is this: the harvest.

Jesus saw the crowds and felt something deeper than pity

In Matthew 9, we are given a glimpse into the heart of Jesus.

Matthew 9:35–38 (NIV)
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”

That word compassion does not mean mild concern. It is not simply feeling sorry for someone. The compassion Jesus felt was deep, gut-level, and impossible to ignore.

And I had to ask myself a hard question.

Do I have the same compassion Jesus has for the lost?

If I am honest, the answer was not always yes.

I could feel sorry for people. I could say, “I will pray for you.” I could recognize that someone was struggling. But the kind of compassion that moves you and compels you to act was something God started convicting me about.

The world we live in is full of people who are confused, harassed, and helpless. Not just emotionally, but spiritually. People are confused about who they are, what truth is, whether Jesus is real, and what kind of life they are supposed to live.

As followers of Christ, we cannot afford to be casual about that.

The enemy has a strategy and it is real

Scripture reminds us that there is a very real spiritual battle happening.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Sometimes our lack of compassion is not because we do not care, but because we forget how real the battle is. There is an enemy whose goal is to keep people from seeing the truth.

I believe we are stepping into a season where God is emboldening His people again. A season where we stop shrinking back and start speaking with love, clarity, and courage. People are hurting. People are searching. People are breaking.

And we have hope in our hands.

What we must have to reach the lost

As I prayed over this, I felt the Lord show me three things believers must have if we are going to reach the harvest.

A heart for the lost
A hand for the lost
A home for the lost

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A heart for the lost

We have to care, not in theory, but with eternity in mind.

We have to care that people are headed toward a forever without Jesus. We have to care that many are spiritually wandering like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus made His mission clear.

John 3:16–17 (NIV)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Jesus did not come to condemn the world. He came to save it. That means we cannot spend our lives offended by people’s sin while refusing to love them the way Jesus does. Scripture also reminds us to keep our priorities straight.

1 John 2:15–17 (NIV)
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

We are not called to love the system of this world, but we are absolutely called to love the people God created.

Love is not optional.

1 Corinthians 13:1–2 (NIV)
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith

2) A Hand for the Lost

There’s an old saying that stays true:

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Words alone don’t always reach a hurting soul.

Some people need the Gospel spoken.
Some people need a sandwich.
Some people need socks.
Some people need a letter in prison.
Some people need someone to sit with them when life collapses.

Jesus said when you do it for “the least of these,” you’re doing it for Him. And God doesn’t ask us to do anything He hasn’t done. Scripture says In Romans 5:8 that He demonstrated His love for us—while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Love that doesn’t move into action isn’t love that looks like Jesus.

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3) A Home for the Lost

I read a quote that stuck with me:

“The church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.”

Yes, as believers, we gather to be built up. We need fellowship and discipleship. But the church is also meant to be a place where the lost can come in and breathe. Not be stared at. Not be whispered about. Not feel like a project.

A place that feels safe—where someone can say,
“I don’t know if I believe yet.”
“I’m struggling with sin.”
“I have questions.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”

…and still feel welcomed.

Because that’s what a home is.
A home is where you can come in messy, and still be loved.
A home is where you can learn.
A home is where you can grow.

Acts 2 shows us the early church—devoted to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and generosity. They ate together, met daily, cared for needs, and Scripture says the Lord added to their number daily.

That’s what happens when God’s people create a home.

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A Costco moment that changed me

After God gave me this message, I started praying differently. I asked Him to help me be more attentive, more aware of the people around me. And then one day, I was in Costco (because of course I was), waiting on a sample like it was a full-course meal.

Two employees were talking, and suddenly the conversation turned spiritual. One said something like, “That person isn’t going to heaven because they’re not good enough.” I looked at the man and asked, “Are you going to heaven?”

He said, “No.”

I said, “Why not?”

He told me he didn’t believe in heaven. He talked about not remembering before birth and assuming death is the same. He believed being “good” would be enough. And right there—between a sample table and a warehouse of bulk groceries—God opened a door.

I told him Jesus made it simple.
Not “try harder.”
Not “be better.”
Not “earn your way.”
But believe.

We talked. We laughed a little. We didn’t argue. But the Word was coming out of me in a way that felt led and intentional. I introduced myself, we shook hands, and when I finally walked away, I started crying.

Not because the conversation was dramatic…
but because I cared.

I cared about his soul.
I cared that eternity is real.
I cared that if something happened to him, he was not ready.

And I realized: that’s the compassion Jesus had.

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A Bible example: Nehemiah had all three

When I asked God for a biblical picture of heart, hand, and home, He brought me to Nehemiah. Nehemiah heard that Jerusalem’s walls were broken down—his people were in trouble and disgrace.

And what did he do?

He wept.
He mourned.
He fasted.
He prayed.

That’s a heart.

But he didn’t stop there.

He asked the king for permission, went back, and rebuilt.

That’s a hand.

And once the wall was rebuilt, the Word was read to the people, and they were taught again.

That’s a home.

Nehemiah didn’t just feel something—he let that burden move him into action.

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Why this matters so much to me

In 2005, I moved to Houston and worked in a senior living community. There was a library upstairs full of donated books. I was not a believer then, but I loved to read. One day, I found a book from the Left Behind series, and I couldn’t stop reading. It’s about people who missed the rapture—people who were lost, scared, confused, and left behind. And as I read, something hit me:

If Jesus came back today… that would be me.

That weekend, I went to church and gave my life to the Lord.

And I can trace that moment back to something simple: someone else in that community had cared enough to plant truth in my life for months, and God used a book to wake me up.

So when I think about the harvest, this isn’t abstract to me. This is real.

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What we must do now

So what do we do with all of this?

We keep the main thing the main thing.

Read the Word.
Not just verses—the Bible. From beginning to end. We can’t reflect God’s heart if we don’t know His Word.

Know the Word.
When Scripture lives in you, the Holy Spirit brings it up right when you need it.

Live the Word.
Our public and private lives should align. Not perfection—but integrity.

Share the Word.
Not aggressively. Not arrogantly. But boldly, with love.

Because there are people all around us who will be left behind if nobody tells them.

And hell was not made for humanity. God made it for the devil—who has been trying to drag people with him ever since.

God made heaven for us.

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A prayer I’m praying daily

Titus 3:3-7 reminds us who we used to be:

³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

The only difference between me and the lost is grace.

So my prayer is this:

Lord, give me compassion again.
Help me see people the way You see them.
Make me a worker in the harvest.
Give me a heart, a hand, and a home.

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Let’s pray for the lost

Jesus said, “Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers.”

And here’s the truth:

We can be the answer to our own prayers.

So this year, let’s make it a resolution that actually matters:

Not just goals.
Not just plans.
Not just self-improvement.

But souls.

Let’s pray for the lost . Let’s pray for our families, our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, and let’s get to work.

This post is part of a 4-week Bible study from my message Lord, Save Me. Listen to the full message with presentation HERE! To download a free printable PDF of today’s study, click HERE.

Reading: Matthew 11:28–30

The miracle doesn’t end when Peter is rescued. It ends when Jesus gets into the boat.

“And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.” (Matthew 14:32)

Peace didn’t come when Peter tried harder. Peace didn’t come when the storm explained itself. Peace came when Jesus was fully welcomed in.

So often we cry out to God for help, but once the crisis passes, we try to take control again. We invite Him to rescue us, but hesitate to let Him stay. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

When life feels heavy, we sink. When we exchange our burdens for His, we find rest. Letting Jesus into the boat means allowing Him access to every part of our lives:

the fear, the frustration, the confusion, and the healing. Not just the polished moments.

He is close to the brokenhearted. He stays when the storm ends. And He is still saving, not just from sin, but from every storm we face.

Discussion Questions

What does it look like to let Jesus stay in your “boat”?

Where do you still try to take control back?

Application

Ask Jesus to be Lord over one specific area you usually keep guarded.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this time today, and we invite You fully into our lives. We invite You into everything we do. We do not want to keep any part of our lives hidden from You, because we desire for You to remain at the center of all things.

Today, Lord, we choose to exchange our burdens for Yours. You have promised that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light, and we thank You for the rest our souls find in this exchange. Teach us what it means to stop striving and to truly rest in You.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are close to us. Thank You that You are not only with us in the storm, but that You remain with us in every season of life—the good and the difficult alike. You stay when the storm ends, and You continue to lead, guide, and carry us through all that we face. We give You all praise and glory.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you for taking part in this study! If you would like to review the complete 4-week study or complete it in a group, click HERE.

This post is part of a 4-week Bible study from my message Lord, Save Me. Listen to the full message with presentation HERE! To download a free printable PDF of today’s study, click HERE.

Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Peter 5:6; Romans 10:13

Peter didn’t start sinking because he stepped out in faith. He started sinking because he shifted his focus. The storm didn’t change—his attention did.

Scripture gives us a clear framework for how God rescues His people in moments like this:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Peter lived this out in real time. He humbled himself—admitting he couldn’t save himself. He prayed—calling out to Jesus. He sought Jesus—not the boat, not the crowd. And he had to turn—from fear, doubt, and distraction.

But there are things that keep us sinking longer than necessary: pride, silence, comparison, and sin. God’s rescue is available—but we have to let go of what’s pulling us under..

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6)

Discussion Questions

• Which of these areas is hardest for you?

• How has silence kept you isolated in the past?

Application

Confess one area where you’ve been carrying unnecessary weight and release it to God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

If there is any area in our lives that is causing us to sink in the midst of the storm, whether pride, silence, comparison, or sin—we ask that You would reveal it to us. Give us the humility to see it clearly and the wisdom to know how to deal with it. We

choose to humble ourselves before You. We pray to You, we seek Your face, and we commit to turning away from the sins and the weights that are entangling us. We ask for Your help, Lord Jesus, because we cannot do this on our own. Thank You that we can cast our cares upon You, knowing that You care deeply for us. Help us to turn to You when we are struggling. Help us to turn to You when we feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. We trust that You are our answer, our peace, and our comfort in every storm.

We love You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This post is part of a 4-week Bible study from my message Lord, Save Me. Listen to the full message with presentation HERE! To download a free printable PDF of today’s study, click HERE.

Reading: Matthew 14:27–31

Peter does something remarkable in the middle of the storm. He steps out of the boat. For a moment, he does the impossible. He walks on water—until fear takes over. The wind becomes louder than the voice of Jesus. The waves feel stronger than his faith. And then he begins to sink. “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Matthew 14:30)

That’s his prayer. No explanation. No justification. No long speech. Just honesty.

Sometimes we think prayer has to sound a certain way—calm, confident, put-together. But this prayer came from panic and desperation, and Jesus responded immediately. “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.” God is not waiting for polished words. He’s listening for honest ones. “Lord, save me” is enough when you don’t have the strength to say anything else.

Discussion Questions

• Why do we sometimes avoid asking for help?

• What keeps you from praying honestly?

Application

Practice praying simple, honest prayers this week. No polishing. Just truth.

Prayer

Father God, Today we come before You as Your children, carrying needs, requests, emotions, and burdens that feel heavy and overwhelming. In the middle of our storms, help us remember that we can come to You with confidence, knowing we don’t have to have the right words or perfectly formed prayers. You know our hearts. You know our desires. You know our needs even before we speak them. Your Word reminds us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groans we cannot understand, and we are so grateful that nothing we carry is hidden from You. Lord, thank You that in the storm, we can cry out to You. Thank You that a simple, honest prayer—“Lord, save me”—is enough. Thank You for the relationship we have with You, for being near, and for responding with compassion when we reach out. We love You, and we trust You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This post is part of a 4-week Bible study from my message Lord, Save Me. Listen to the full message with presentation HERE! To download a free printable PDF of today’s study, click HERE.

Reading: Matthew 14:22–26

Storms have a way of catching us off guard, especially when they arrive right after something good. In Matthew 14, the disciples had just witnessed one of the most incredible miracles of Jesus’ ministry. Thousands were fed with a few loaves and fish. God’s power was undeniable. Spirits were high. Faith felt strong.

And then they got into the boat.

“Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.” (Matthew 14:25)

By the time Jesus reached them, they were already battling a violent storm. They were exhausted, afraid, and feeling alone. That detail matters.

Storms don’t always come because we did something wrong. Sometimes they come right after moments of obedience, faith, and victory. A storm is not proof that God has abandoned you. It’s not evidence that you missed His will.

Jesus already knew where they were. And He was already on His way.

If you’re in a storm right now—emotionally, spiritually, or physically—know this: You are not forgotten. You are not overlooked. And you are not navigating this alone. Storms may shake us, but they do not remove us from God’s care.

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever experienced a storm right after a season of growth?

• What storms are hardest for you, external or internal?

Application

This week, identify one storm you’re currently facing. Write it down and acknowledge it honestly before God.

Prayer

Our most gracious God and Father, we thank You that You care deeply about us. We thank You that Your Word reminds us in John 16:33 that we can take heart, because You have already overcome the world. We know that in this life there will be trouble and trials, but You came so that we could have peace. So today, God, we speak peace over the hearts and minds of Your children. If anyone reading this is walking through a storm, we speak to that storm now, and we command it to be still in the name of Jesus. We thank You, Lord, that You are with us in the storm, that we are not alone, and that we will not be overtaken. We trust that You will carry us through, and that we will come out victorious, because of who You are and what You have already done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.