Deeper Roots than Dill

Whoever lived in this house before we moved in either a) had a really intense love for dill weed, so much so that they let the entire garden run rampant with it, or b) could have cared less about the garden and let the dill run rampant.

Jordan and I, however, do not have such a love for dill. So this year, as we planted our garden, we made a point of ripping out the roots of those dill weed plants, making room for jalapeños, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, and other wonderful garden veggies. Feeling some compassion and a small potential need, we let some of the dill stay where it was in our garden.

Last week, as I was weeding in the garden and pulling up some carrots, the dill kind of got in my way. By now, the dill stands up to my waist. There seems to be a lot more of it now that's taller than it seemed when it was little. So, as I was in the garden last week, I went on a rampage - a pull up ALL of the dill rampage! Rar! It was so empowering, to rip up those weeds, roots and all and get them out of the garden. Although I worked up a sweat, the dill never put up much of a fight. Even the roots came up seemingly smooth most of the time. Boo-ya, dill. Boo-ya.

As I was on this victorious dill-uprooting rampage, I couldn't help but think of our lives as believers. Are we so shallowly rooted in the Lord that Satan and his cohorts can come along and quickly, easily pluck us up from the soil of our faith? Or do we have strong roots in the Lord, firmly planted in Him and His Word? In Colossians 2, Paul exhorts believers,

"Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." (Colossians 2:6-8)

When we are established, when we are firmly planted in the Lord and in our faith, we cannot be plucked up easily. Although deceptions will come and Satan will try to uproot us, we will stand firm in the Lord because our roots are deeper than dill. But we don't just sit or stand there, looking pretty with our roots grounded. We walk in the Lord, build our relationship with Him, and live lives of gratitude.

Living for Jesus, despite its difficulties, seems a lot better than being easily plucked up and thrown out by Satan.