Hello Reader,

Have you ever seen a sabal palm tree right after it’s been transplanted?

Here in Florida, sabal palms are harvested from swampy places, plucked up without much of a root ball, stripped of their fronds, and stacked in piles that look more like discarded logs than living trees. It’s hard to believe they survive.

But once they are planted and braced or “staked up” with wooden stakes, something incredible happens. They slowly grow new roots and begin to flourish.

It reminds me of what Paul wrote in Colossians:

Being firmly planted in Christ is just the beginning. To become established in our faith, we must be rooted and cultivate overflowing gratitude.

We don’t generally think too much about gratitude, although we are taught as children to be polite and give thanks.

But through my study of the Bible, I have discovered that gratitude is much more powerful than we have previously thought.

Gratitude is one of the nutritional ingredients necessary for a spiritual soil that strengthens and deepens our roots.

Like the sabal palm, we may go through seasons where we feel stripped or lifeless, but gratitude helps us draw nourishment from God’s presence and faithful goodness.

It reminds us God is good even in when life looks discouraging.

It keeps us supported, resilient, and able to withstand the storms of life.

Just like an established palm’s roots hold it firm through hurricane-force winds, our thankful hearts make us unshakable in times of adversity.

We can see the connection between gratitude and faith in the story of the ten lepers (Luke 17).

All ten lepers cried out for mercy, and all ten were healed.

But only one returned to thank Jesus, and he received something greater.

Jesus said to him, “Your faith has made you whole.”

This is a great example of how faith and gratitude are interconnected.

This man’s leprous, scarred, and possibly deformed or crippled body was more than healed; it was made new.

His gratitude became the underlying key for his complete restoration, not just healing, but wholeness in body, soul, and spirit.

That’s the power of a thankful heart.

It grows our faith, draws us closer to Jesus, and prepares us for even greater miracles.

And friend, that kind of faith isn’t something we manufacture overnight. It grows each time we choose gratitude.

When we thank God for today’s provision, our faith strengthens to trust Him for tomorrow’s provision!

When we celebrate His goodness in this moment, we step into deeper confidence that He is still working in the ones to come.

So if you feel like the you’re still in the “staked up” stage like the sabal palm, planted, but waiting for you’re your breakthrough, know this:

Your roots are growing!!!

Your faith is deepening. And gratitude is the key that makes you unshakable.

Keep thanking. Keep trusting. Keep growing.

God bless you in this journey,

Cynthia Johnson

Deeper Walk Ministries, Inc.

P.S. I’d love to hear how God is growing your roots through gratitude. Hit reply and share your story!

Also, if you would like to read more about faith and gratitude, you can check out my newest book. Thank you for reading!