Struggle Strengthens Your Roots

One day, swayed by the currents of depression, I decided to quit... I left my job, broke my relationships, dropped my spiritual observances... I even wanted to quit my life. Lost in my suicidal thoughts, I rushed to the woods to have one last conversation with God. "O Almighty God!", I implored, "I have come to you with my shattered state of mind, with all my hopes lost, shirking and leaving all that I had and all that I was undergoing. Now, before quitting my life, I am here at your mercy. Can you please show me one good reason not to quit ?" His answer surprised me...

"O My loving child, just turn your face and look around", He said, "Can you catch the sight of the fern and the bamboo growing around you?"

 "Yes, my reverend father", I replied.

God, then, started explaining, "When I sowed the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good and proper care of them. I provided them with light and showered timely water upon them. The fern quickly cropped out from the earth. It soon covered and adorned the earth with its brilliant, lush green hue, while no signs of growth appeared from the bamboo seeds. But I did not lose heart and quit on the bamboo. With the passage of time, when the second year started, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. But again, nothing sprouted from the bamboo seed. Still, I did not quit on the bamboo." God, further, said, "In third year again, there was nothing from the inactively lying bamboo seed, but I would not quit. Gradually, time passed, and there was the incoming of the fourth year; however, there was no shoot up from the bamboo seed. But still, I, not losing my patience, did not quit. Then, all of a sudden, in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the lap of the earth. No doubt, in its earlier stages, compared to the fern,  it was seemingly small and insignificant, but just 6 months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall, far above the reach of the fern. It had patiently spent five complete years in growing its roots - those roots that made it strong and gave it the firm support that it needed to survive."

He, then, said to me, "Try to understand, My child. Do you know that all this time, while you have been struggling hard, you have actually been growing roots for your further growth and nourishment?"

"The way I would not quit on the bamboo, I will never quit on you. Don't lose heart. Wait for the golden ray of hope to shine from the black clouds of despair," He advised, "The only key to success is be patient and stop comparing yourself with others, as I did not compare the bamboo with the fern. Though the bamboo and the fern have different purposes, they both make the forest beautiful."

 "Just like the bamboo, your time will also arrive soon," God assured me, "you will also rise high."

The ray of hope again glittered from my face, and I enquired, "How high should I rise?"

"How high can the bamboo rise?" God asked in return.

"So, you mean as high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes," He said, "Give me glory by climbing and rising as high as you can."

Soon after, I left the forest and brought back this story in a hope that these words can help in assuring you that God will never give upon you.