Rooted in love

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

July 2025

With all the devastation in Kerrville and flooding Guadalupe and Frio Rivers, I stand amazed at how God leads us knowing the days ahead of us. I also write for two newspapers in Kerrville, one in New Braunfels and submitted the below article on Wednesday, July 2^nd to all newspapers. Little did I know the days ahead in the community (Kerrville) I’ve lived in for 58 years. With everything being uprooted, the loss of lives, homes, businesses and beautiful cypress trees, many have found comfort and direction in the below article. I hope it encourages you.

We are living in some pretty crazy days right now in our world, with political unrest, the border crisis, financial uncertainty and the situation with Iran and Israel.

It is in times like these we need to let our roots sink deep, so we are secure.

The word root means to become stable. It also means to establish deeply and firmly. So, what are your roots hanging on to right now? And are they roots that go deep and bring you strength and nourishment? What is keeping you strong and secure?

I believe everything is about a relationship with God. No matter what we do in life, where we go, how we deal with things, God is right there with us to guide us and walk with us.

2025 has brought plenty of problems for many. Personally, I have been working on letting my roots go deeper in God’s love for me and my trust in him. What that looks like is me reminding myself of God’s love and telling him frequently I love him.

Colossians 2:6-7 instructs us in The Living Bible, “And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done.”

As I have looked at each problem I have faced, I have also made a practice of being thankful. We have so much to be thankful for in the midst of the challenges. Thanksgiving helps us see the possibilities instead of just focusing on the problems.

Actually, God’s heart is as we look to him, we will be strengthened so much to overflowing with joy and thanks, because thanksgiving changes us. It actually softens my heart and puts it in a better place.

When we look to God, adversity can help us grow, and I always want to be growing in the Lord.

Ephesians 3:16-20 (TPT) says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

What a power-packed scripture! Let me encourage you to join me and read this passage slowly several times, and let it wash over your heart. Think about the words. Meditate on them, as I have, and let your roots go deep in their meaning.

We are instructed to rest in his great love, as it gives us power to overcome.

I love the conclusion of this passage. It reminds us that God is able to work things together for our good, and it is much more than we can picture. I am hanging on to that and letting my roots, which keep me focused and stable, sink into this truth.

I challenge you to let your roots go deep in his love, so you will be stable and find strength.

Will you join me?

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie is a native of the Hill Country, a podcaster, author, writer and speaker. Contact her at [email protected]. You can also purchase her book, “Thriving Through Seasons of Grief,” or listen to her podcast on her website, www.kathleenmaxwellrambie.com.