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Deep Roots, Strong Growth (Devotional and Song)

I Will Trust You Lord – A Cappella

I Will Trust You Lord – Duet Vocal Instrumental

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV):

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Devotional: Deep Roots, Strong Growth

Life is full of storms—whether physical like hurricanes or emotional and spiritual. Storms test the strength of what lies beneath the surface. In Psalm 1, the psalmist beautifully contrasts two kinds of people: those deeply rooted in God’s Word, like a tree planted by streams of water, and those blown about like chaff in the wind.

The metaphor of the tree is powerful. A tree thrives because of its hidden roots, reaching deep into nourishing soil. Similarly, our spiritual formation, the unseen part of our lives, shapes everything else. It’s what keeps us steady when life’s storms come. When our roots are anchored in Christ, we’re not only sustained but fruitful, providing shade and sustenance to others.

As we reflect on the devastation of trees uprooted during storms, especially mango trees, which are particularly vulnerable due to shallow roots, that’s a picture of what happens when our spiritual lives lack depth! Like those trees, we too can fall when challenges arise unless we cultivate deep, abiding roots in Jesus.

Spiritual formation is about more than knowledge—it’s about transformation. It’s about becoming who God designed us to be, aligning the interior (our heart and relationship with God) with the exterior (our actions and mission in the world). Practices like meditating on Scripture, prayer, and reflection help us grow deeper into Christ, drawing from His life-giving waters.

Let’s make it our goal to be trees firmly planted by the streams of God’s grace, with roots that grow deep into His love and truth. Then, when the storms of life come, we’ll stand firm, flourishing not only for ourselves but for the world around us.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for being our stream of living water. Help us to grow deep roots in You, anchoring our hearts and lives in Your truth. Teach us to align our interior lives with Your Spirit so that our outward actions reflect Your love and mission. Make us like trees planted by Your streams, steadfast in storms and fruitful in every season. May our lives be a testament to Your grace, offering shade and sustenance to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 1:

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Interpretation for Today’s Life

Blessed is the one who refuses to press the Easy button by following the ways of the wicked rather than taking the path of integrity and hard work
Blessed is the one who avoids temptations of the wicked, like…
…Cheating on my taxes by submitting false documentation and using the excuse “The Government owes me this”
…Short changing the cashier when I know I was given too much change in return, resulting in a shortage in their cash drawer to be reconciled and flippantly using the excuse “That’s their loss, my gain”
…Taking credit for someone else’s accomplishments to make me look better, rather than speaking the truth and giving credit where credit is due and using the excuse “I did most of the work anyway and I deserve the credit”
…Covering up my own mistakes by blaming someone else behind their back and using the excuse “They never do anything worthwhile and this wasn’t my fault”
…Taking it out on another in fits of anger or other types of control and using the excuse “They never help me out when I need it or give me a break; I’m always bailing them out”
…Not trusting you God with my brokenness and failures, and instead turning to addictive behaviors using the excuse “I can solve my own problems; and, God wouldn’t help me anyway”
…Making myself out to be more important than you God, and thus committing the vilest of sin using the excuse “Who are you God that I would trust you with my problems? You never answer my prayers. I’ll fix it myself”
Bless us Lord instead when we thirst for your Words of life and meditate on them day and night
Bless us when we sing praises and pray to you in our cars on the way to work or school or during our morning devotion
Bless us when we pray for others and when we lift them up to you on their behalf
Plant us and root us in your Words, like a tree next to a stream of water soaking up the deep waters of life
Let our leaves flourish and never wither
May our trunk grow strong to withstand life’s storms and the never ending attacks of the wicked
May you prosper all of our activities…
…In our interactions with family and friends and our coworkers
…With every conversation we have with those as we go about our day that they may see You living within us
…When we are thankful and gracious to those around us and can see when someone needs encouragement in their day
…When we offer forgiveness to those who hurt us and when we are quick to say we are sorry when we hurt others
…When we do not pass up any opportunity to do a kind deed to the least of these among us
May we not be like paper rubbish blown hither and yonder in the wind like the wicked who have no direction or purpose but of themselves
May we not stand condemned in the judgement but remain strong in the assembly of the righteous
Watch over us, oh Lord, in our walk of righteousness
And keep us from the destructive ways of the wicked
For you are our God
Glory to God in the highest

Amen

Song: I Will Trust You Lord

Verse 1:
I will trust You, Lord, my shelter, my song
Planted by Your stream, where my roots grow strong
When the heat is near, still my leaves stay bright
In the darkest storm, You will be my light

Pre-Chorus:
Oh, my heart is grounded deep in Your grace
Anchored in Your presence, I will stand in faith

Chorus:
Like a tree beside the river, I will stand so tall
Through the fire, through the season, You’re my all in all
My leaves stay green, my soul stays strong
Your love sustains me all life long
I will bear Your fruit, Lord, make me new
I am deeply rooted in You

Verse 2:
I will drink Your Word, let it fill my soul
Day and night I’ll seek You, Lord, You make me whole
When the winds arise, I will not be swayed
For my roots run deep, I will not be afraid

Pre-Chorus:
Oh, my heart is grounded deep in Your grace
Anchored in Your presence, I will stand in faith

Bridge:
No fear in the drought (No fear, no fear!)
No doubt in the storm (No doubt, no doubt!)
Your love is my anchor (My heart is Yours!)
I’ll trust You, Lord (Forevermore!)

Final Chorus:
Like a tree beside the river, I will stand so tall
Through the fire, through the season, You’re my all in all
My leaves stay green, my soul stays strong
Your love sustains me all life long
I will bear Your fruit, Lord, make me new
I am deeply rooted in You

Outro:
Deeply rooted, never shaken
By Your love, I stand so strong
Deeply rooted, always faithful
In Your hands, I belong

But then I prayed (Devotional and Song)

Female Vocal

Scripture:
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:17-18 (NIV)

Devotional: “But Then I Prayed”

When life presses in, and our hearts feel heavy, it can be hard to believe that God is near. The weight of struggles and the darkness of despair can make us feel isolated, as though no one, not even God, understands or cares. Yet, Psalm 34 reminds us of a profound truth: God hears. He is close. He saves.

The words “The righteous cry out” don’t paint a picture of someone who has it all together. Instead, they describe someone who is desperate, someone who acknowledges their need for God. This is where breakthrough begins—not in perfection, but in surrender. When we pray, we aren’t informing God of our troubles; we’re inviting Him into them. He’s always near, especially to the brokenhearted, ready to comfort and deliver.

In the song But Then I Prayed, the turning point isn’t when the storms disappear but when the author chooses to pray. That moment of prayer shifts the focus from the overwhelming problem to the overwhelming presence of God. Prayer is where despair meets hope, and faith is renewed.

No matter what you’re facing today—whether it’s grief, uncertainty, or fear—cry out to God. He hears you. He draws near to the crushed in spirit. And while the circumstances may not change immediately, you will begin to feel His nearness, His strength, and His peace.

Prayer:
Loving Father,
Thank You for the promise that You hear us when we cry out. Thank You for being close to the brokenhearted and saving those who feel crushed under life’s weight. Today, we bring our burdens to You, knowing that You are strong enough to carry them and loving enough to walk with us through every trial.

Lord, help us to trust You even when the answers don’t come quickly. Let Your presence be our refuge and Your peace our comfort. Draw near to us, remind us that we are never alone, and teach us to find strength in surrendering to You in prayer.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.I wrestle through the night,

Writing
Rest evades my grasp,
The burdens seem to multiply,
Mountains rising fast.
Before my weary eyes,
The avalanche descends,
I find myself ensnared,
With nowhere to transcend.
In stasis I remain,
Frozen in my plight,
Caught within the shadows,
Of an endless, silent night.
I can’t move another inch,
Resignation takes its toll,
Oh, I surrender now,
I yield, my weary soul.

But then… I prayed.

Oh Lord, don’t let the darkness take my life today.
You promised, “Trust in Me.”
You said, “Lay your burdens down.”
Yet it seems the weight I bear
Is the cage that holds me bound.
Wherever I may wander,
There, I find my woe.
Unlock the door before me,
Release the chains I know.
Please, oh please, move that mountain,
With just a swipe of Your hand.

Today, I seek a fresh start,
You’ve freed me from my bonds,
Yet as I gaze around me,
I see a world of pain.
Hope seems so elusive;
My heart sinks in despair.
What kind of God are You,
When suffering reigns everywhere?
Countless cry out in anguish,
Many will perish today.
If You don’t care for their plight,
Why should I hope in Your way?
I wring my hands in grief,
For those I hold so dear,
Doubts creep in my spirit,
And linger ever near.

But then… I prayed.

Place Your healing hand, Lord,
Upon my loved ones’ souls,
Let their pain be lifted,
Restore them, make them whole.
If it is Your will,
Give new life a chance,
Spare them from the grave,
Allow them one more dance.

I falter time and again,
No other way to say.
I can’t evade the truth;
This mess I’ve made today.
I’ll fix it, take control,
With my own two hands I’ll strive,
To navigate the chaos,
To keep this hope alive.

But then… I prayed.

Oh God, let not my will,
But Yours alone be done.
I’ll step aside in reverence,
And humbly seek Your sun.
I’ll ask, and seek, and knock,
Trusting You with all my strife,
Regardless of the outcome,
I’ll remain within Your life.

We’re built for community,
Not meant to walk alone.
The prayer of the righteous
Has power, great and known.
Elijah, a man like us,
Prayed fervently for rain,
For three long years and more,
The skies withheld their grain.
Then he prayed once more,
And the heavens opened wide,
With faith like his, may we
Receive the blessings You provide.
May our prayers be faithful,
Diligent and true,
That in the long, hard journey,
We shine brightly in You.

Copyright © 2024 by SkylerThomas

Song

[Verse 1]
The night was long, the weight was strong,
The shadows whispered, “You don’t belong.”
I felt the fear, the dark surround,
No light, no hope, no solid ground.

[Pre-Chorus]
And in my sorrow, in my despair,
I found Your presence waiting there.

[Chorus]
But then I prayed, and You were near,
Your voice of love cast out my fear.
Your mercy came, Your grace remained,
The chains were gone—You healed my pain.
But then I prayed, but then I prayed.

[Verse 2]
The storms rolled in, the waves were high,
The questions burned, “Lord, why, oh why?”
My strength was gone, my faith ran dry,
Yet still I lifted up my cry.

[Pre-Chorus]
And in the chaos, I heard You say,
“My child, I’m here, don’t turn away.”

[Bridge]
Mountains move, and waters part,
Your power reaches every heart.
When all seems lost, when hope is faint,
Your name alone sustains the saints.
I called to You, and You replied,
Your love restored my life inside.

[Outro]
So I will pray through every fight,
I’ll lift my song in darkest night.
Your love will hold, Your peace will stay,
Forevermore, I’ll sing and say:
But then I prayed, and You were near,
Your light of hope erased my fear.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

The ink is dry on all of our past
The pages we turned are recorded at last
Some are stained by the tears of our pain
And most are remembered by the joys that we gained
Memories are memories and they cannot be changed
They can only be embraced by how our minds arranged
So here we come to this Thanksgiving day
And what we bring to celebrate and weigh
To make each day count, the advantage to take
To keep writing our pages, great memories to make
So let’s mark this day as a day to remember
Thanksgiving 2022 in the month of November
We lay down a feast and celebrate this meal
And before you, Oh Great God, we humbly kneel
Today we celebrate your overwhelming grace
Looking forward to the future and blessings to embrace
With tremendous joy of grateful celebration
We step into the future with great anticipation
Amen

Peace, Perfect Peace

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

What is important about what Jesus said is what He didn’t say.

He did not say…
…Come unto me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, unless your burdens are the result of something you did.
…Unless you caused your burdens.
…Unless your burdens are the result of your own bad choices.
…Unless your burdens are from disobedience to God’s Word.
…Unless you came to Me once before with your burdens; and you want a second chance.

O dear God…
…On this day
…At this hour
…At this place

May I simply take You at your Word and trust your promise.

I am weary O God from carrying around the burdens from my own bad choices
And You know, my burdens are not pretty O God
Though You have said my prayers are a sweet smelling incense
I know my burdens are a stench of rubbish that “stinks to high Heaven”

But I will trust
And like I’ve done a thousand times before, I’ll do it again
And I will leave my burdens at your feet

O dear God…
…On this day
…At this hour
…At this place

And I will vow again to take Your yoke
And when people see me and talk to me today
May they not see the person of myself
But may they see a reflection of You
Because I have treated them with kindness, as you did
And I have spoken to them with compassion, as you did
And in spite of being wronged, may I stand with integrity, as you did
Not with pride, but with humility, as you did
And might my presence be a blessing, as you were

And at the end of the day, may I look back on this day
And be thankful to a great and loving God
And rest my head on my pillow
And be at peace

George Thomas Caldbeck penned these words:

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom nought but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus’ keeping we are safe and they.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,
and Jesus call to heaven’s perfect peace.

In Jesus name, I pray.
Amen

But Then I Prayed (v1)

Wrestles nights.
I can’t sleep.
It just seems like the burdens are building.
And growing before my very eyes.
Like mountains in front of me.
And then…the avalanche happens.

And I can’t move…in any direction.
Freezing my steps…in my tracks.
I can’t move.
And I give up. I give in. I’m done.
Oh, I’m so done.

But then… I Prayed.

Oh Lord, let not Satan take my life in this way.
You said, “Trust me.”
You said, “Let me take the burden.”
But it seems, to me, the burden is me.
It seems, to me, the burden is my cage.
And everywhere I go…there I am.
In my cage.
Please, unlock the door.
Release the bondage of my chains.
Please, oh please, move the mountain.
With the swipe of your hand.

Today, it’s a fresh start.
You’ve released me.
But I look around.
And all I see is pain and suffering in this world.
That doesn’t give me much hope.
It makes me sad.
In fact, it makes me wonder, What kind of God you are?
Because there are so many that will suffer in pain.
Calling out to you, many will die in pain.
On this day, today, many will die, crying out to you.
If you don’t care for them, how can you care for me?
I wring my hands in grief.
I wring my hands for the loss of those near me.
And deep in my soul, I have doubts.
I wonder.
Why don’t you care?

But then… I Prayed.

Please place your hand on my loved ones and bring your healing
Please release them from this temporary pain, and make it go away
If it be your will, breath new life into their lungs
And spare them this time from the grave

I fail, constantly, it seems. There’s no other way to explain it.
I can’t excuse it. I can’t change it. I’m a mess.
I will fix it. I will rely on my own two hands.
To maneuver my way; dodging; escaping the situation.

But then… I Prayed.

Oh God, let not my will, but your will be done.
I’ll get out of your way; and simply bow to my knees
I’ll ask, and seek and knock…and let you do the rest as you will.
And regardless of the outcome; I’ll remain faithful to you.

We are made for community…and not to stand alone.
And the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours,
And he prayed fervently that it might not rain,
And for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.