Obstacles To Growth
August 5, 2026
Scripture Of The Day
Most blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river, and it shall not see and fear when heat comes, but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of the drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7 and 8)
By Cheryl Henderson
Have you ever sat through a sermon and thought, The pastor has been listening to my conversations with God? That's how I felt recently. The message encouraged me, challenged me, comforted me, and lovingly corrected me—all at the same time. That's the power of God's Word. It is alive, piercing our hearts, exposing what needs to change, and leading us into freedom.
The pastor spoke about the enemies of growth. Since we are all under construction, we should expect to keep growing in Christ. But the enemy wants to keep us immature and ineffective. Two of his greatest weapons are insecurity and inconsistency.
Insecurity is really misplaced trust. I realized I had begun believing the lie that everything depended on me. Instead of trusting God, I was relying on my own strength. I had forgotten to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). Sitting there in that pew, I repented and exchanged my fear for faith. My confession became, "All things are possible with God."
Inconsistency weakens our roots. Joshua and Caleb remained faithful and steadfast while everyone else gave in to fear. Because they consistently trusted God, they saw possibilities where others saw obstacles. Consistency in God's Word, prayer, and obedience keeps us connected to the true Vine and allows our roots to grow deep.
Jeremiah 17:7–8 paints a beautiful picture of a believer whose trust is firmly planted in the Lord: "Blessed are those who trust in the Lord... They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water." Even in seasons of heat and drought, they continue to thrive because their source is God.
Today, ask yourself: Are my roots growing deeper, or am I relying on myself? Trust Him completely. Stay consistent. When your roots are deep in God's truth, you will continue to grow, flourish, and bear fruit in every season.