Recently I have been thinking about things in my life that are rooted deep within me to the point that I can’t see what’s below the surface. Often, when I’m free I suddenly find myself frustrated because something comes along and I find myself facing something that I didn’t see before. As we know, roots run deep and all we see is what’s coming out the surface. Just like a tree, we know if the roots are healthy based off of what the actual tree looks like. But say if there are things appearing that aren’t healthy, we know there is something wrong going on underground. Roots are used to draw life up out of the ground into the rest of the whole tree. If the roots are sucking all the life out of the ground, the tree withers because it getting too much water. Or if the roots are trying to find water that doesn’t exist, the tree once again withers from a lack of life.
A new way I’ve thought of what roots can exist within a human is to compare it to the seven deadly sins. And what is even more interesting is looking at the Latin words for the sins and also synonym for their meanings. It gives a lot more depth into what can really go on inside of a person and why it’s so harmful.
The 7 Deadly sins
-ira (wrath), uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger, a manifestation of impatience, revenge, vengeance. A "love of justice perverted to revenge and spite".
-avaritia (avarice/greed), like lust and gluttony it is a sin of excess. It’s most basic definition is the pursuit of wealth and status. Avarice explains things like disloyalty, betrayal, bribery, manipulation, etc.
-acedia/socordia (discouragement/sloth), the failure to utilize ones talents and gifts, an absence or insufficiency of love
-superbia (pride) identified as a desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to acknowledge the good work of others, and excessive love of self, a desire to compete with God.
-luxuria (lechary/lust), excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature but also excessive love of others that renders love of God as secondary.
-invidia (envy), an insatiable desire, resentment of others.
-gula (gluttony), the over consumption of anything to the point of waste. Withholding from the needy.
In the book of proverbs King Solomon lists six things God hates and the seventh, that he absolutely detests. These are
· A proud look.
· A lying tongue.
· Hands that shed innocent blood.
· A heart that devises wicked plots.
· Feet that are swift to run into mischief.
· A deceitful witness that utters lies.
· Him that sows discord among brethren.
It can seem really overwhelming that these are all things that we struggle with. When there is a root inside of us, it isn’t something that is completely removed right away. God gives us grace and complete forgiveness from all sin in our life yet the roots still remain and are still in a process of being uprooted from us. It takes a lifetime of refining to draw something so deep within us out. In those refining times we can feel so much shame and condemnation for having those roots to begin with. But the truth is, every single human being has them. Some of them might be more hidden from view, or some of them might have had a lot of progress in the area of healing while others are still withering your life. But isn’t it good to know that at least they’re being dealth with? It’s not even a process of us having to deal with them but rather to be obedient and love God. Here take a look at this;
“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” Chronicles 20:15
I read this verse and the word “discouraged” stood out to me. A synonym for “discouraged” is “demoralization.” When I look at that word there is just a yucky feeling it places inside of you. There is nothing worse than seeing someone demoralized, humiliated and stripped down. I believe that this is exactly what Satan does to us. He figured out who we are, finds out what we fear most that we are, and also what we fear most that we cannot do then sets out to confirm it.
Don’t mistake God’s refining for demoralization. It’s an easy mistake to make.
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