We’ve had some days of springlike weather. Those days of just slightly warmer temperatures which tease and remind us spring will come.
As I look out at our trees, I keep looking for signs of growth – those slight tinges of color that appear before the buds and leaves begin to sprout.
My thoughts turn and remember when, years ago sitting with a dear pastor friend, he made an observation and remarked, “You are very stubborn.”
As if that were not enough of a sting, he shared a Scripture to back his point on the ugliness of stubbornness:
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”
(1 Samuel 15:23, NKJV)
It was said in love, to bring correction, and while it hurt deeply, he was right. Seeing this trait in light of the ugliness of sin caused me to allow the Lord to begin a work of uprooting and change. Granted, it will probably be a lifelong work, but I am not the same person I was when I first heard those words years ago.
Only recently did I begin to see the good side of being stubborn.
“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 3:17, NLT)
“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.Â
(Colossians 2:7a,NLT)
We need some stubborn roots in our spiritual lives:
“Roots strengthen and support us against the prevailing winds of persuasion. When the mind-bending gales attack without warning, it’s the network of solid roots that holds us firm and keeps us straight … It takes roots, stubborn, deep, powerful roots, to keep us standing.”
(Chuck Swindoll)
It’s been a long time, thirty-seven years to be exact, since the words were first spoken to me. The process of changing and growing deep roots is a process that takes time.
It’s a process unique to each one of us, which makes it not only a slow process but silent one. No one notices the progress or the change but ourselves.
Then comes the day, you remember the words which while they stung, were the impetus for life changes. And you see the beauty in the uprooting, and see the Lord was growing that very same trait for your good.
The rest of the verse says:
“Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:7b, NLT)
Praying for us all to grow stubborn roots and a strong faith!
Donna Bucher brings this beautiful insight regarding Lent: “Lent provides the perfect season for confronting casual attitudes toward sin and holiness, through introspection and dedicated prayer.” You can read her post, Lent: Embracing Grace in the Ashes, HERE.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Photo by Jacob Buchhave on Unsplash
Today I am joining …
A beautiful testimony, Joanne, “And you see the beauty in the uprooting, and see the Lord was growing that very same trait for your good.”
It’s always difficult to take criticism””even when it’s said in love! I’m glad you have learned how to grow your roots deep into Jesus. May we all remember that if our roots grow deep, our faith can flourish no matter the conditions around us.
It is such a blessing when God speaks to us through others, sending us in the right direction for His desires for us! I’ve been in correction, and it is painful, yet a pain that is part of healing. Thank you for sharing your story of correction, Joanna!
How wonderful when God transforms a besetting sin into a strength! The Spirit is at work…
The pastor I had during high school and college years said that he and his wife prayed that their unborn daughter would have a strong will to do right and serve the Lord–not realizing what a strong will would mean in a 2-year-old. 🙂 Another pastor used to say that for every strength, there’s an offsetting weakness. Every trait can be used for good or bad. I’m so thankful God can redeem all our traits and use them for His glory.
Yes, indeed, there is a good side and a bad side to being stubborn. Thankful for God’s patient working in our lives as He teaches us how to use our traits for His glory. Isn’t it wonderful to be able to sit back and reflect on the work He has done? 🙂
“. . . but I am not the same person I was . . .” What beautiful words to be able to write. This is our hope, the promise, the continuing work of 2 Cor 5:17, is it not? We live in the now and the not yet. We are always being transformed. What a winsome post.
Amen. I am thankful for the grace God gives. I am thankful to have His hope.
Being rooted is very important! The ones who are rooted into Jesus are the ones who won’t fall away when tough times come.
I once was told I was very sarcastic. At the time, I thought I was just being witty but it opened my eyes to the hurtful things I said. Sometimes we need to become aware of our character flaws. I’ve now been working on overcoming sarcasm for over 40 years.
Joanne, thank you for sharing this story with us today. Praise God for His words sting sometimes, but they bring about the beautiful fruit of righteousness in due season. Your stubborness needed training; rather than giving in to the negative side, you have learned over the years the usefulness of the trait when surrendered to God’s able hands for molding. A good reminder on both counts today! And thank you for sharing my Lent post today dear friend!
I had never thought of my roots as “stubborn” but I like that comparison!
I have been described as “stubborn” too, and I agree it can have its good points as well as bad!
Great post Joanne!
Blessings,
Jennifer
Being corrected or rebuked is always hard! But we all need it from time to time, and it’s good when we can look back and see how we’ve grown because of it. There’s a difference between being stubborn and being steadfast and persistent!
God forms the stubborn will for a reason. We must submit to Him and godly authorities, but we must be ready to stand up for truth. Controlling that will is the key and using the stubbornness for His purposes–those matter.
I take criticism poorly and have been described as stubborn too. I join you in praying that we may all grow stubborn roots and strong faith too.
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Joanne, love this thought of putting down deep (and stubborn) roots in our faith. Such a great analogy. Stubborn can be seen in a positive light!
Joanne, what a gift your pastor friend gave you, and what a blessing that you were able to see it as such and move in a different direction. I know what you mean about the two sides of stubbornness … it’s a very strong trait in my family (passed down from my German dad). It’s manifested itself in some not-so-great ways over the years, but also in the form of persistence, endurance and a determination to do the right thing even when others are not.