Why Rooted Willows?
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 ESV
The idea of being “rooted” is not a new one in Christianity. The Bible is full of agricultural imagery, and strong roots are crucial for flourishing. Jeremiah 17:8 (ESV) says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” To be a rooted tree is to be preparing yourself for life’s storms by finding your roots in Christ.
The willow tree is always found by the water. It needs to be close to a water source for its structure and roots to receive the nourishment it needs. Water is the lifeblood for the weeping willow, and it cannot grow without it. To grow continuously and healthily, the willow also needs sunlight, pruning and spacing to root itself well. So too does the believer.
The psalmist says the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, “is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1:3 ESV) The willow tree exhibits this, and to be a ‘rooted willow’ models what the Christian life looks like. We, like the Willow tree, need to be planted by streams of water to be fruitful. Even moreso, we need the living water that only comes from Jesus to sustain us (John 4:14). We too, need to be pruned for our sanctification and growth (John 15:2) and need to be guided by the light (John 8:12). While we still have needs outside of these, these core tenets are what keep the Christian rooted in Christ.
Rooted Willows exists to help Christian women be rooted in Christ during life’s hardships. Whether struggling with situational grief, long-term depression & anxiety or hard transitions, Rooted Willows aims to provide biblically based and clinically informed hope and counsel to help you remember where your roots are and to build you up in Christ. If you are struggling to strengthen your roots, Rooted Willows is here to help you.
