By John H. Corbin

In the great state of Kentucky, most of our country roads follow the flow of a creek or stream, which created many winding roads. Recently our neighbor went off the road, with her car ending up on its side, dangling over water with the support of several trees. As we tried to rescue her, it quickly became obvious she was upset. The fear of drowning was causing a high level of stress. Once my son got down into the creek and showed her the water was only a couple of feet deep, calmness overcame her, and she eventually helped pull herself out.

Deeply Rooted

I’m aware this lady could have drowned in just a couple feet of water. Just importantly we must realize we can drown in a small amount of sin. 

“I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river” (Ezekiel 47:7). Our Kentucky creeks are lined with many Sycamore trees—they have roots that find every crack and crevice to hold the creek beds in place and support their formation. When we become deeply rooted in God’s Word, developing a formation of his likeness, it finds every crack and crevice within our soul to grow and blossom, allowing his power to shine through us. This enables us to flee Satan and sin. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

A Gardner with Love

God designed each of us for accomplishment, he engineered us for success, and he endowed us with seeds for greatness. “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” (John 15:1, 2).

When we allow the living water of Christ to flow through us, powerful blessings begin to unfold in our lives. Once God’s love is growing within us, he promises to shape us so that we bring joy and happiness to those within our circle.

John Corbin serves as a supply preacher for churches and runs a landscaping firm. He has three sons, Adam, Dakota, and Malachi, and makes his home in Ghent, Kentucky.