Following three days of torrential rains, a friend of mine walked down a wooded Appalachian trail. Along the way tree after tree had fallen.
The shallow roots seemed to interconnect with roots of other trees, reminding him of social networks, but the huge trees had no deep roots, no taproots.
Trees without taproots reminded him of some of us who have no deep connection with God. We may have friends, family, homes, jobs, but without a deep, abiding faith in God our lives may totter and tumble as huge oaks on a mountainous forest floor.
In times of trouble those who trust in science, naturalism or civic reliability will be disappointed, but those who trust in the Lord will have spiritual strength that will help guide them through disaster.
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
He 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.
Jeremiah 17:7-8