I continue to meditate and marinate on the subject of discipleship. I was introduced to the concept of stakes…you know those supports used on young trees or plants? My research unveiled some deep spiritual truths and my personal experience confirmed what I got from my “book learnin’”.
The purpose of the stake is to provide support for young trees or plants until they are strong enough to stand or grow on their own. In a garden, some plants bloom rather quickly, and the weight of their flowers can overwhelm their stem, causing them to bend or even break.
Gardeners use sticks or dead branches to “stake” the plant, giving it the strength it needs to “hold its own”. The stake is planted in the same soil as the plant, but it does not draw resources away from the plant. It is connected to the plant, but it is not a permanent bond.
The stake also provides a boundary for the young plant or tree, keeping it from overgrowing too soon and invading the space (and life source) of other plants. The stake is a temporary support system and a wise gardener knows it must be removed at some point or it will stunt the growth and development of the young plant or tree.
As a tree grows, its roots must grow deep and wide in order to find sufficient nutrients to survive. The outwards growth, or spread, is necessary to provide width to the base of the trunk. When a tree is staked too long, the trunk will not grow wide enough and later in life, strong winds can blow the tree over, sometimes even causing the trunk to break.
Discipleship is similar to staking. God will place people around you to help you grow. They should provide boundaries and help you bear the weight of your talents, desires, and calling. They provide strength for a season, but eventually God will pull them away so you can learn to stand in your own space and withstand the storms of life that are ordained for that space.
It is best to have someone who is planted in the same soil as you, without taking resources away from you. That speaks to mature individuals, who have not only been tested, but have passed their tests. These people, your stakes, must also understand that the bond they have with you is not a permanent connection, meaning they must eventually pull back so you can prove that you are strong enough to stand. You will not, you cannot reach your full potential unless they release you.
So be grateful for the people God has surrounded you with. Learn from them, lean on them, but be willing to grow into your full destiny and purpose. Make sure your trunk, your foundation, is both deep and wide so that you will not just survive, but thrive. Then your fruit will remain and become a source of life. Your presence will become a place of refuge and a shade for others.
Don’t hate the stakes, enjoy them while you can, for they are temporary and it is in your best interest that they eventually be pulled back. You cannot be afraid to grow without them, or even outgrow them.
Grow up. Your destiny is at stake.
Everyday God... 