Deep Roots

Sometimes the garden we are planted in is not the garden where we want to be; we see the garden across the fence, and it has more variety or more interesting plants, and it is easy to think that life in that garden would be easier. My life as a missionary in Ecuador is like this at times; when the worldwide health crisis hit us in Ecuador in 2020 and we had curfews and restrictions on driving, school online and we were hardly able to leave our house, it was hard not to want to go and grow in another garden for a season. In 2021, other gardens began to thrive while the garden I was planted in continued to be much the same. The other side of the fence looked so much easier at times.

During that season in 2020 and 2021, I began to realize that my roots had to go deep into the soil of God’s word to thrive where I was planted. I began to meet with groups of women online and we would read God’s word and pray together. I continued this practice even when my garden became more varied and interesting later in 2021.

During that difficult season, one group that I was a part of read some chapters in Ephesians. Ephesians 3 talks about being “rooted and established in love…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” (NIV) I began to realize that my garden was a place where I could establish deep roots and flourish.

In 2022, I was able to leave my garden for a time and go to the US; as I talked to people there, I realized that their gardens had also been difficult places in 2020 and 2021. Despite what someone’s garden looks like on the outside, I realized that life in another garden is not necessarily easier. I began to value more where God had me planted during that time. The deep roots I established in God’s word during that time caused me to see myself differently and be more secure in who God created me to be, and in how much He values me, and I became stronger as a result. This year has brought greater variety to my garden back in Ecuador and greater challenges as well; I continue to grow deep roots in the soil of God’s word to thrive in the garden where I am planted.