But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season.

~Psalm 1:2-3a NKJV

I would have no fall roses . . . or so I thought. Who knew I would experience a rose resurrection? 

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My knockout roses had gotten the dreaded broomstick disease, and it was spreading amongst the bushes. I fought tears as I watched my rose bushes resisting the ropes that held each tightly onto the tow ball while the truck driver inched forward. With quick acceleration, each yielded–its root ball exposed–and the rose bush toppled. Their former places now sunken, I asked workers to fill the holes with loose dirt. Sullen, I ambled across the garden, thanking God that at least not all needed to be removed and that the plague would stop.

As fall approached, I reminisced about my roses, mourning their loss. The empty spaces they once occupied reminded me of their former glory. Suddenly, I noticed a reddish-green twig poking up in one of the holes. I approached, and sure enough, it was new growth coming from roots I didn’t know were still there. I checked another spot, and then another.

To my delight, not one, but most of the bushes that had been removed were springing to life from root stock that, unbeknownst to me, had remained buried deep within the earth. The new growth was clean of disease, each touting shiny green leaflets. I thanked God He had resurrected these beauties, making them a garden treasure once again.

Be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ.

~Ephesians 3:16b-19a NKJV

Jesus resurrects wounded souls much like He resurrected my roses. The deeper our roots go in His Word, the easier the process. When we have deep spiritual roots, no attack from the enemy will succeed. We may experience temporary losses, but God remakes the broken places of our souls, cleansing and healing us as we apply His Word to our brokenness. We need only trust Him through the tough times and remain rooted in Him.

Our Beloved Jesus delights in restoring us. In Song 2:17, we see Him inviting us to go to the mountains on a spiritual pilgrimage. He beckons us to bring Him our deepest fears. The first place we traverse is Bether mountain. Bether means “division,” and in this location, we bring to our Beloved the shadowy lies and divisive thoughts that vie for our attention. It is here that we fight to discern lies from truth.

Beloved calls us to tell Him our most troubling thoughts, beliefs, and disappointments and He helps us to overcome. He stays with us through these dark seasons of the soul, helping us to become whole once again. He roots us in His Word where we are weak, and He reminds us of His Word where our spiritual roots already run deep.

Beloved defends our position on this mountain. He stotts like a majestic gazelle or a youthful stag, protecting us as we work through each soul wound. He does this, calling us “Love,” not because we’ve earned this title but because He knows the outcome of a Bride who is willing to base her life on His unchanging Word. His love brings life to us just as He brought life to my once diseased roses. The longer we stay with Him on our mountain stroll, the deeper this healing goes.

Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of Bether.

~Song 2:17 NKJV

Friend, let your roots go deep into the Bible, the very words of the Master. Jesus will make you an overcomer as you do so. Tarry with Him often and become deeply rooted in His Word.

When you experience losses, do your spiritual roots remain rooted in God’s Word?

Lord Jesus, thank You for soul restoration and restoration. Help me to spend time with You often, listening, so my spiritual roots will tap into the truths of Your Word. Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2022: Rose Restoration: Diane Virginia: All Rights Reserved

Published: September 2022: Inspire a Fire