Proverbs 12:1–3 NLT  To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. The Lord approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness. Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots

[02/17/2023; iPhone X]

My first time overseas was when I arrived in the UK in July of 2022. That trip marked the beginning of what has become a meaningful season of travel, one that continues to this day. Looking back now, I can see that God used that trip to start something quiet and steady in me. 

On February 17, 2023, I took my first trip outside of England. I chose to go to Edinburgh, Scotland because it was the easiest out-of-country trip I could make at the time, a cheap, four-hour train ride from London’s King’s Cross Station. I took the Lumo train, which goes directly into the heart of Edinburgh, and stayed the weekend at Castle Rock Hostel. 

Edinburgh remains one of my favorite trips so far. Not just because it kicked off this love for travel that I’ve been living out ever since, but because the city itself is truly something special. You can feel the weight of history just by walking through it. Cobblestone streets, castles perched on hills, cathedrals that look like they’ve been standing for centuries. The city has a unique gothic energy I haven’t experienced anywhere else. The locals are also incredibly friendly. 

At the beginning of every year, on January 1, I change the wallpaper on my phone. It’s always a verse that I want to focus on for that year. Going into 2023, I chose Proverbs 12:1–3 and paired it with a photo of a weathervane from the album This Is How the Wind Shifts by my friend’s band Silverstein. The verse felt fitting with that background. At the time, it was just a solid reminder but during this trip, it started to feel like more than that as I looked at it every time I checked my phone during the train ride. 

Proverbs 12 gives a clear picture of what it looks like to walk with integrity compared to living without it. The first few verses highlight how we respond to correction, the kind of people God shows favor to, and what actually brings stability in life. It contrasts wisdom with foolishness, rootedness with instability, and righteousness with deception. 

The part that stuck with me the most was verse 3. It says that the righteous have deep roots and will not be moved. Then later in verse 12, it says those same roots will bear fruit. That kind of life doesn’t just happen. It comes from consistency, obedience, humility, and a real desire to walk in truth, no matter the season. 

But before any root can grow, there has to be a seed. Jesus talks about this in the parable of the sower. The seed is the Word of God, and the soil (our hearts) determines whether or not that Word takes root. It’s a reminder that what’s happening below the surface often matters more than what anyone else sees. 

Roots are meant to anchor, nourish, and sustain. Without strong roots, a plant won’t survive storms, heat, or drought. The same is true for us. If we’re going to hold steady through difficulty, we need to be grounded in something deeper than emotions or routine. We need to be rooted in God’s truth, in His presence, and in the kind of discipline that quietly builds strength over time. 

That’s the kind of life I want. Not loud, not rushed, but rooted, steady, and faithful

I spent three really good days in Scotland. It’s a place I’ll always recommend visiting. If you go, I hope you get to see what I did, evidence of God’s glory stretched across the Earth. The earth moves and the wind shifts, not randomly, but in step with His design. I’m beyond grateful that I got to experience it here, in this place. Scotland reminded me that the world is full of wonder, and every bit of it belongs to Him. 

Closing 

A life built on God may not always look impressive from the outside. But the roots go deep. Deep enough to hold through storms. Deep enough to last. 

Proverbs says the godly have deep roots. That’s the kind of person I want to be. That’s the kind of life I want to live. 

Jesus is KING. 

As you reflect this week ask yourself: 

Proverbs says the root of the righteous will never be moved and will bear fruit. Are you feeding your “root” with what it needs such as God’s Word, worship, prayer, community? 

What other Scriptures use different metaphors to describe the foundation of our faith? 

Please share in the comments! 

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