Are you thriving or dying?

by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan

Three years ago, I had such a sweet, precious secret pal at school, and she gifted me a beautiful bonsai plant. It was a thoughtful gift, a tiny reminder of life and growth, sitting happily on my kitchen counter and later in the window sill above my sink.

But at Christmas, I decided to move it to one of my side tables, thinking it would add a little charm to a new corner of my home. Soon after, I began to notice subtle changes. My once-thriving bonsai started to wilt, even though it still had good turgor pressure from regular watering. The leaves began to shrivel and die. This morning, I touched the roots, and to my dismay, they were mush. My sweet little bonsai was dead.

I was confused—how could this happen? It had water. It had care. What I didn’t realize was that the soil had become too acidic, robbing the plant of the ability to thrive. Without the right balance, no amount of water could save it.

And then, the Holy Spirit whispered truth into my heart: This is exactly what happens when we are not rooted in Christ.

The Parable of the Sower: What Soil Are You Rooted In?

Jesus teaches this very lesson in Matthew 13:3-9 when He shares the Parable of the Sower:

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:3-8, NIV)

Later, Jesus explains exactly what this parable means in Matthew 13:18-23:

• Seed that fell on the path represents those who hear the message but do not understand it, and the enemy snatches it away before it can take root.
• Seed that fell on rocky ground represents people who receive the Word with joy but have no root. They believe for a while, but in times of trouble or persecution, they quickly fall away.
• Seed that fell among thorns represents those who hear the Word but let the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it out, making it unfruitful.
• Seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear the Word, understand it, and produce a fruitful harvest in their lives.

Where do you see yourself in this parable?

Spiritual Decay: When We Are Not Rooted in Christ

My bonsai tree didn’t die overnight. It first stopped producing new growth. Then, its branches became brittle. Finally, the roots—the very source of life—began to rot.

This is what happens to us spiritually when we drift away from Jesus.

• We stop bearing fruit. We go through the motions of faith, but there is no evidence of life. (John 15:4-5)
• Our branches stop budding. The Holy Spirit nudges us, but we resist. We no longer hunger for the Word or prayer. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
• Our trunk weakens. We become vulnerable to attack, and the enemy begins to steal our joy and our peace. (1 Peter 5:8)
• Our roots rot. Our faith becomes lifeless, and we feel distant from God. (Revelation 3:1-2)

We may still be going to church. We may still look okay on the outside. But inside, something is missing. Are you thriving in good soil, or are you withering because you’ve been uprooted?

An Invitation to Come Back to Your First Love ❤️

If you find yourself among the rocky soil, the thorns, or even if you feel completely dried up and lifeless in your faith, I have good news: Jesus specializes in resurrection.

Revelation 2:4-5 is a wake-up call for all of us:

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

Jesus doesn’t want you to stay in that lifeless, wilted place. He wants to breathe life into your dry bones (Ezekiel 37:5-6). He wants you to return to Him—not just as a lukewarm believer, but as a vibrant, fruit-bearing, Jesus-infused, life-bearing follower of the Most High King! 👑

If you’ve drifted, today is the day to return.

• Get back in the Word.
• Make time for prayer.
• Ask God to renew your spirit.
• Surround yourself with others who will nourish and encourage your faith.

The Gardener Restores 🌿

John 15:1-2 reminds us that God is the gardener:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

God is willing to prune you, to restore you, and to make you fruitful again. If you feel spiritually dead, remember: a seed must die before it grows (John 12:24). Surrender to Him, and let Him plant you in good soil.

Where are your roots today?

Come back to the Living Water. 🌊 Come back to the Good Soil. 🌱 Come back to the One who makes all things new. ✝️

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