Inactivity Equals Growth

It’s right in the middle of the cold winter and I am gazing outside of my upstairs window. As I am enjoying the view, my eyes are focused on the bare trees that were once fully arrayed with illustrious colored leaves from the Autumn season.  It is no surprise to me, the return of the cold windy winter has returned and sooner or later, as surely as it always does, the sparse branches will again, bud with new leaves on them. With a more curious gaze, I begin to stare at skeletons of trees before my eyes.

Inquisitive as I am, I began to wonder what is happening underneath the soil with root function during the harsh cold winters. Of course, I have come to learn, as we all have, that seasons come and go. But my curiosity would not leave me alone. Intrigued as I was, I was determined to find out what was really happening to those roots and what I found out was that not only are the roots oftentimes appearing to be somewhat dormant during the winter, most of the time they are doing more than we can imagine.  The roots are still growing and producing nourishment to the trunk and branches so that it’s in preparation mode for the upcoming Spring season.

Quickly, my mind thought of the stability of the tree.  It was stable, even during the bare, cold, wintery months.  And what we consider to be a bare skeleton of a tree is actually a fortified, well-conditioned structure that’s ready for the production of new leaves and longer branches when the warm weather returns.  It may appear that during the time of fading nothing is going on, but on the contrary, the tree is at its strongest because the root system is sure. And because the root system is sure, it has a solid foundation.  There is always an assurance that growth and expansion will take place because the root system is a solid source of stability.

My deep thought brought me to the revelation that the tree trunk and branches rely on the foundation of the roots. It’s dependable and immutable.  The tree trunk and branches depend on the root system to supply what’s needed for growth and the root system’s character is unchanging.

A powerful scripture reminds us in Isaiah 80: 4 about the surety and immutability of the foundational word of God. Even when conditions and seasons of circumstances leave us in a state where we appear to be unproductive and ineffective, the embedded word of God in our hearts is rooted, grounded destined to bring stability.  We are still growing and His character is unchanging!

“The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.” 
 
The promises of God are yes and amen.  Each promise is fully reliable, unchanging, resolute and prepares us for the seasons of sprouting, expansion and growth.  
The book of Psalms begins with the assurance that when we meditate on the promises of God, we will be like trees that bring forth fruit and our season, our leaves will not wither and whatever we do will prosper. (Psalms 1: 2-3).  The root system "is" the promises of God.
Just as the root system of the tree brings fortification and nourishment during those months where inactivity appears to be happening, much preparation is being made through each working root system.  That true system is designed to bring forth everything necessary for the tree to produce. On the surface, to the naked eye, nothing is happening; but, growth is happening at the root!

So, as I reflect on that tree, the answer to my question of "what is happening" would be, “it’s growing!”  With each passing day, those roots are expanding and gaining more stability and security through being grounded.

What’s currently happening above the soil of the tree is the manifestation of what’s been going on underneath.  Every root continues to spread out anchoring the tree as it grows to full maturity.  During inactivity it’s still growing!

We are like trees in the seasons of preparation; the word of God is working at the core to manifest stability, and productivity is working in us at the surface to bring forth sprouting and blooming in our due season like never before. In seasons of what may look like inactivity, we’re still actively growing! As paradoxical as it may sound, the appearance of inactivity on the surface equals growth at the root. We just keep growing!








Copyright 2025  Carmela E. Head