Protect the Roots

#MindsetMonday • 7:22 a.m. Feb. 23, 2026

Everyone loves the fruit. The wins. The breakthroughs. The answered prayers.

But roots? Roots are where the fight happens. Roots grow in dirt. In darkness. In pressure.

And faith often feels the same.

There are seasons when God feels close, and everything flows. And then there are seasons where you pray … and it feels quiet.

You work … and nothing changes. You believe … and doubt still whispers. That is root season.

The world celebrates visible success. God develops invisible strength. Because storms don’t expose your talent. They expose your foundation.

When fear shows up. When the deal falls apart. When relationships strain. When life punches harder than you expected. … You don’t suddenly become strong. You reveal what you’ve been rooted in all along.

Faith is not fragile. Faith is forged. It is waking up and trusting anyway. It is choosing obedience when comfort is the wider path. It is forgiving when your pride wants revenge. It is staying the course when quitting would feel easier and look reasonable.

Deep roots are built through discipline. Prayer when you don’t feel like it. Scripture when you’d rather scroll. Integrity when shortcuts are tempting. Gratitude when circumstances say complain. This is the unseen work that makes people unshakable.

So before you chase the next win, ask a harder question: What am I rooted in?

If your roots are shallow, pressure will expose them. But if your roots are deep in faith, truth, and purpose, storms become training, not defeat.

So this week: Protect your time with God. Stay committed when it gets hard.

Strong roots grow strong fruit. And God never wastes a season spent underground.