Barbra Gentry-Pugh

Planted, Rooted, and Blossoming

August 10, 2025

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.
“For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NASB)

Have you ever planted something and waited, and waited before you saw even the smallest green shoot? Growth often begins unseen. Before a flower can bloom, it must first take root. The same is true in our spiritual lives; our visible fruit is only as healthy as our hidden foundation.

For nine consecutive years, our yard won the community pride award for its beautiful lawn and vibrant flowers. My husband was passionate about every detail; seven of those years were his masterwork. After he passed, I managed to keep it going for two more years, planting flowers and tending the trees we had carefully chosen together. But one spring, everything changed. The deer came, nibbling my flowers down to stubs and leaving only bare stems where beauty once thrived. No matter how much I planted, they returned, stripping away what I had worked so hard to cultivate.

It’s painful to lose something you’ve invested so much time, care, and love in. As a nurse, I’ve seen a similar reality in the human body. A patient may appear healthy on the outside, but if the underlying systems are compromised or left unprotected, illness can slowly erode their strength. In the same way, our spiritual lives may look vibrant for a time, but without consistent nourishment and protection, the “deer” of distraction, sin, discouragement, and neglect can nibble away at our growth until little remains.

Spiritual growth is the process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. When we place our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins the process of making us more like Him, conforming us to His image. Spiritual growth is perhaps best described in 2 Peter 1:3-8, which tells us that by God’s power we have “everything we need” to live lives of godliness, which is the goal of spiritual growth. Notice that what we need comes “through our knowledge of Him,” which is the key to obtaining everything we need. Our knowledge of Him comes from the Word, given to us for our edification and growth.

2 Peter 1:3-9 ^“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. (NLT)

God is intimately involved in our spiritual growth. The God who began a good work in us continues it throughout our lifetime and will finish it when we meet Him face to face. God’s work for us began when Christ died on the cross in our place. His work in us began when we first believed. Now the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day. Paul is describing the process of Christian growth and maturity that began when we accepted Jesus and will continue until Christ returns.

Planted: When we come to Christ, we are “planted” in Him. This is more than attending church or calling ourselves Christians; it’s an intentional choice to let Him be the foundation and source of our lives. Like a seed in the right soil, we are positioned for growth, but that growth requires daily nourishment from His Word and His presence.

Rooted: Roots speak of stability and depth. A plant with deep roots can survive storms and dry seasons. Spiritually, our roots grow deeper when we spend time in prayer, immerse ourselves in Scripture, worship in Spirit and truth, and live in obedience. Without deep roots, we risk being swayed by every hardship or false teaching. Deep roots also help us recover when life “nibbles” at our joy or peace.

Blossoming: A plant that is well-planted and deeply rooted, in time, will blossom. Spiritually, when we are well-rooted in Christ, in time, we will blossom. These blossoms, the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, are visible evidence of God’s work in us. Blossoms bring beauty to the world, bless others, and reflect the glory of God. There are two lists in Galatians 5:19-23. Verses 19-21 list the “acts of the flesh.” These are the things that identified our lives before we came to Christ for salvation. The acts of the flesh are the activities we are to confess, repent of, and, with God’s help, overcome. As we experience spiritual growth, fewer and fewer of the “acts of the flesh” will be evident in our lives. The second list is the “fruit of the Spirit” verses 22-23. These are what should characterize our lives now that we have experienced salvation in Jesus Christ. Spiritual growth is identified by the fruit of the Spirit becoming increasingly evident in a believer’s life.

Spiritual growth is the process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. When we place our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins the process of making us more like Him, conforming us to His image. Spiritual growth is perhaps best described in 2 Peter 1:3-8, which tells us that by God’s power we have “everything we need” to live lives of godliness, which is the goal of spiritual growth. Notice that what we need comes “through our knowledge of Him,” which is the key to obtaining everything we need. Our knowledge of Him comes from the Word, given to us for our edification and growth.

HEART CHECK: Do you feel at times as though you aren’t making progress in your spiritual life? Do you sometimes feel as though you aren’t making progress in your spiritual life? When God starts a project, he completes it! As with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life. When you are discouraged, remember that God won’t give up on you. He promises to finish the work he has begun. When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God’s promise and provision. Don’t let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to him.

Remember when God starts a project, He completes it, as noted in Philippians 1:6
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

HEART CHALLENGE: Is something “nibbling” at your spiritual growth right now, worry, distraction, comparison, unforgiveness, or busyness? Where are you in this process—just planted, rooting deeper, or beginning to blossom? How can you guard your roots and protect your growth this week? What practical steps can you take this week to guard your roots and protect your growth? What is one intentional step you can take this week to grow stronger in Christ? When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God’s promise and provision. Don’t let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to Him

A GROWINGHEART: Receiving Christ as Lord of your life is the beginning of life with Christ. But you must continue to follow His leadership by being rooted, built up, and strengthened in the faith. Christ wants to guide you and help you with your daily problems. You can live for Christ by committing your life and submitting your will to him, Romans 12:1-2; seeking to learn from him, his life, and His teachings, Colossians 3:16; and recognizing the Holy Spirit’s power in you, Acts 1:8; and Galatians 5:22.

God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life. When you are discouraged, remember that God won’t give up on you. He promises to finish the work he has begun.

PRAYER:   Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word that gives us clear instructions on how we can be changed by Your Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.   Father God, thank You for planting me in the rich soil of Your love and grace. Help my roots grow deep in You so I can blossom for Your glory. Help my roots grow deep in You so that I can blossom for Your glory. Guard me from anything that would hinder my growth and let my life be a living testimony of Your goodness, mercy, and grace in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.