Dig In

Today we’re digging deep—figuratively, of course… unless you’ve got weekend garden plans. But seriously, we’re talking about going deeper in our walk with God.

Sometimes life feels dry, stressful, or shallow, and that’s when we need roots that run deep—into God’s truth, presence, and strength.

So today, we’re talking about what it means to dig deep when life gets hard, and how God meets us in those deep places.

Jeremiah 17:8 (NLT) — “They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.”

Let’s talk about the why behind digging deep. Life’s not all smooth and rosy. Sometimes storms come, and shallow roots just won’t cut it.

Let’s be honest—surface-level faith is easy. But what about when life hits hard? That’s when you find out if you’ve dug deep into God’s truth, or just sprinkled a little on top.

Imagine getting a brand-new plant and just setting it on the ground and forgetting about it... Nothing is going to grow from that. When we want growth, we have to make sure we’ve been rooted first.

The most unshakable people I know are rooted deep in God. They’ve been through droughts, heartbreak, disappointments—but they still stand strong. Why? Because their faith didn’t live on the surface.

We have this one tree behind the radio station, and during Hurricane Beryl, that tree rocked and leaned. We thought, there’s no way this tree is going to make it. Y’all, it was swaying pretty hard. But it made it! And though it’s leaning, it’s still standing strong. Why? The roots. They’re deep because that tree has had time to grow and strengthen.

You don’t wait for the hurricane to plant your roots. Start digging now. In the quiet, in the calm, in the boring mornings—that’s where deep faith is built.

When you dig deep, you tap into strength that doesn’t come from you—it comes from God.

Sometimes it’s life’s hardships that force us to go deeper. We don’t like the pressure, but it drives our roots down to where the Living Water is.

That’s basically what has happened to me over the years. I thought I was doing great in my walk, but then something would happen, and God would show me that I needed work. That I needed to be better rooted in His Word and Truth so that I could better withstand life.

I’m so thankful for His grace and mercy through all of life’s trials.

We may not like pain. But we do need it. It helps us grow. Pain and pressure push us to the point of desperation and need. When we feel that, we start to make changes. That’s when we’re stretched and become more rooted. God also helps us know that we are not alone in any of it.

Think about those times you’ve said, “Lord, I’ve got nothing left”—and He showed up.

Now let’s talk about the how of digging deep. How do we dig deep in our day-to-day lives, when laundry is piled up and there never seems to be enough time in the day?

Think of prayer, Scripture, worship, and community as your spiritual shovel. They’re not flashy—but they’re how we break ground and dig below the surface.

You don’t need fancy tools. Just start where you are.

Jeremiah 17:8 (NLT) — “They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.”

Sometimes digging deep means showing up even when you don’t feel anything. The roots still grow in silence. Some of our best spiritual growth happens when God seems quiet.

I’ve had plenty of times in my life where I questioned if God was hearing me or even with me because the season I was in was so hard.

Ever been in a “silent” season and realized later just how much God was doing behind the scenes?

You can’t grow roots in fake soil. When we see turf, we can tell it’s fake. There’s just something about it that doesn’t sit right—especially during certain seasons. We need to be real and come across with genuineness.

Be real with God—bring your doubts, frustrations, and mess openly to Him. That’s where digging deep makes changes and our faith continues to form and strengthen.

Being real is healing for us. It shows our true character, which comes from Christ. We are to grow to be more like Him. He has given us the fruits of the Spirit to develop and to let others see Him through us.

You can learn a lot from watching someone walk through hardship with grace. That friend who prayed through a loss? Or the coworker whose joy doesn’t depend on the day? That’s deep-root faith in action.

Who’s someone in your life that inspires you to grow deeper?

Now that we’ve talked about why and how we dig deep, let’s talk about how we stay rooted. Because deep roots aren’t just planted once—they’re nurtured every day.

Not every day is exciting. Sometimes digging deep means doing the same quiet thing over and over—like showing up, praying again, reading when it doesn’t “hit.”

I know so many of us have had moments of just going through the motions. But know this: slow growth is still growth. God honors consistency.

Jeremiah 17:8 (NLT) — “They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.”

When we walk with other believers, they can challenge us, water us, and sometimes help dig when we’re stuck.

Like when your friend texts you, “Did you read your Bible today?” and you’re like, “Umm… define read?” It’s the accountability that keeps us in check.

When we know someone is checking in on us or depending on us, we tend to push forward because we don’t want to let them down. That mindset is good—but let’s point that toward God. Of course we don’t want to let others down, but more importantly, we don’t want to let God down.

God is always with us, always pushing us—and we can rely on that. So remember, He is always with you, even in the times when digging deep is needed.

You know what happens when you dig deep? You start to bear fruit: peace, joy, patience—even when life is hard. Others will see it too, and they’ll want to know where it comes from.

That’s true for me. When I share my journey with others, I often get asked the same questions—and it’s in the story of God being with me that those questions are stirred. We want others to know that in the digging deep, God has helped us to bear fruit. We want it all to be for His glory, because He is the one who has seen us through.

Even when things are going well—keep digging. Don’t settle for shallow when there’s more of God to know and trust. Depth with Him is a lifetime journey.

God wants a relationship with you that can weather any storm. Keep digging. He’s worth it.

Faith isn’t about perfection—it’s about depth. The deeper you go with God, the stronger you become, no matter what life throws your way. So whether you're digging with joy or digging through tears, keep going. Roots take time, but they lead to an unshakable life.