What an Old Tree Taught Me About Endurance and Faith
There’s an old tree near my home that I’ve stared at hundreds of times.
It stands on the hillside, tall, weathered, unmistakably scarred by storms.
And yet… it still stands.
Over time, I’ve realized that old tree has quietly become one of my best teachers about endurance.
I feel close to God as I stare in silent prayer and wonder.
I call it ‘the God tree.’
Endurance Isn’t Always Impressive
The world often celebrates loud success. We cheer for big accomplishments, quick turnarounds, and instant results.
But endurance? Endurance is quieter.
It means staying rooted when life gets hard.
It means facing and surviving storms.
It is holding your ground when you feel worn thin.
What the Tree Knows
This tree has seen countless seasons come and go.
It has survived harsh winters, lightning strikes, and drought.
It has lost limbs along the way.
And yet, because of its endurance, it offers shade, shelter, and beauty in a way young, untested trees cannot.
Our Faith Needs Roots
In Colossians 2:7, Paul writes:
“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.”
The strongest faith often grows slowly.
Roots deepen in hidden places.
Character forms not in comfort, but in challenge.
What Endurance Looks Like in Real Life
Endurance isn’t flashy.
It’s showing up every day for people you love.
It’s praying when answers feel far away.
It’s loving even when you’re tired.
Endurance means we keep going, not because life is easy, but because love and faith compel us.
Lessons from the Tree
Here’s what that old tree has taught me:
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Storms will come, but storms will also pass.
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Losing a few branches doesn’t mean you’ve lost your purpose.
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Deep roots will hold you steady.
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Endurance creates beauty that only time can produce.
Closing Reflection: Stay Rooted, Stay Steady
If life feels hard today, if you feel worn, weathered, or tired. Remember the lesson of the tree.
Endurance matters.
Your quiet faithfulness is stronger than you know.
Keep standing.
Keep trusting.
Keep growing.
Reflection Question:
What has helped you stay rooted during life’s storms?