Root-Bound

I was so happy when I received this precious and thoughtful gift for Christmas. The nativity scene was so sweet and I was really excited about how one pot could represent life in multiple ways. Not only did it represent the life of Jesus, but in it I could also see the life I get to live because of Him and the life represented in the bulbs that were planted in the pot.

I was eagerly anticipating watching these bulbs grow, mature, and bloom into all they were created to be. I made sure they had the water and light they needed to reach their fullest potential. Daily I would watch their progress and get excited every time I came home and realized they had grown just a little bit more.

 After just a few weeks, two of the bulbs were beginning to bloom! Now, not only was I excited, but my daughter was as well. We had watched their exponential growth and suddenly they were starting to flourish.

With multiple buds starting to form from the two bulbs, it became very obvious the third one did not want to grow. It continued to remain stagnant. I kept watching it and waiting on it, but it didn’t even grow a little bit. It looked exactly the way it did when I first received it.

Then one day when I got home, I noticed instead of the stems of the other two bulbs standing straight up, they had begun to lean over. By the very next day, they were in a complete slump. While I was so focused on the one that wasn’t growing, I neglected to give the attention needed to the ones that were. I began questioning myself, “Did I water them too much or did they get too little? Did they get too much sun or did they not get enough?” Then it hit me. They’re still trying to grow but they’re stuck in this same little pot. That’s why they’re growing weary.

I stopped what I was doing and went to get something where their roots could be free to continue to thrive. As soon as I pulled the bulbs out of the current pot, it was very obvious they were root-bound. The roots were continuously trying to grow but they had nowhere to go. So, rather than stop growing, they just started going around and around in circles. When this happens, they will eventually become hardened if the issue is left unaddressed.

I gently loosened the stressed out roots and transplanted them into their new environment. I gave them a fresh drink of water and positioned them where they could get the sun they needed to continue to grow and develop.

When I pulled the third bulb out, it was no surprise to see that it hadn’t grown any roots. How can bulbs planted in the same pot, in the same soil, receiving the same amount of water and being exposed to the sun the same amount of time have such drastically different outcomes? It was obvious the conditions of the environment weren’t the problem. The problem was with the bulb. It wasn’t choosing to thrive. It was simply choosing to survive.

I didn’t throw it away. I simply put it back in the original pot it had always been in.

When you choose to grow, don’t be distracted by those around you that choose not to. You may find yourself in some places that may be big for those who choose to stay small, but may be small for those who choose to continue to grow. Don’t be satisfied with just surviving. Instead, choose to thrive. Get yourself planted in a place that has the capacity for you to grow. Allow your roots to grow deep and wide so you can stand upright, be steadfast, and produce much good fruit.

Jesus was born and died so you could live and grow – not for you to be stagnant or root-bound. Don’t be satisfied with looking alive but not growing. Drink in the water of the Word. Get as much time in the presence of the Son as you can. When you’ve grown beyond the capacity of where you are, talk to whoever your leader is in that area and let them know. When the time is right, they can help move you to where you need to be so your heart doesn’t become hardened and your growth doesn’t become stunted as a result of being root-bound. 

Questions to Ask

·      In what areas of your life are you choosing to just survive rather than choosing to thrive?

·      What circumstances in your life have you been blaming for you still being in the same pot you started in?

·      What leader have you submitted yourself to that can help you in your growth and development?

Scriptures to Study

·      1 Corinthians 3:1–3

·      Hebrews 6:1–3

·      1 Peter 2:1–3

·      Psalm 92:12-14

To go even deeper, get your copy of one or all of our Everyday Wisdom Book Series and subscribe to our Everyday Wisdom Podcast.