Greater Than Ourselves

Deep Green

Driving the backroads of Oklahoma in spring, where dense forests stretch for miles, reminds me of the children of God and their relationship with Him.

Looking across the trees is like opening a large box of Crayola crayons filled with the varied and plentiful shades of green; from bright spring green to rich forest green. Every hue is distinct, yet together they create a breathtaking landscape. In many ways, the trees become a picture of faith and the beautiful process of spiritual growth.

Leaf Formation

The development of a leaf from a small bud into a mature, vibrant canopy is known as photosynthesis. Each leaf contains chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for its green color. Chlorophyll has another important task. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight which the tree uses to turn carbon dioxide from the air and water into sugars. It is these sugars that help the tree grow. Those nutrients strengthen the tree and sustain its growth throughout the seasons.

As summer progresses and the leaves receive maximum sun exposure, more chlorophyll develops within them. With this maximum sun exposure, change occurs. The leaf that began as a delicate, fragile leaf slowly deepens in color, becoming strong, full, and richly green. The leaf’s transformation is directly connected to its continual exposure to light.

Faith Formation

Our faith journey unfolds in much the same way.

Each believer’s story is as unique and personal as each leaf upon a tree. No two leaves are shaped exactly alike, and no two stories of coming to Christ evolve in the same way. Each new leaf begins tender and fragile, stretching toward the sunlight so it can grow. In much the same way, our faith begins reaching for the light of Christ, longing to be filled with His presence. We all need His light to nourish us, to sustain us, and to transform us, as Psalm 38:9 says, "O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you” or as Psalm 73:25 says, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth I desire besides you.”

A leaf cannot deepen in color apart from the sun, and our souls cannot flourish apart from the love of God. With every moment spent in His presence, every truth learned through His Word, and every act of grace received, our faith grows deeper and more vibrant. Paul states this beautifully, "and (you) have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10).

Over time, the evidence of abiding in Christ becomes visible. Our thoughts, desires, attitudes, and character begin to reflect His nature. Like leaves darkened into deep green by continual sunlight, believers are transformed by continual fellowship with Jesus. In fact, Jesus tells us this in John 15:4, saying, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."

The beauty of a leaf is not found solely in its individuality. The sum of each individual leaf becomes something greater than itself. It becomes a whole living, flourishing tree. In Acts 2:42–47, we see this same truth reflected in the early believers. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Individually, each believer had a personal faith journey, yet together they became the vibrant and growing early church.

In the same way, our personal walk with Jesus joins us to the greater Body of Christ. Like leaves connected to branches within a vast forest, we are individual believers rooted in God’s love and growing together in faith, strengthened by His Spirit and nourished through community with one another.

In Christ's love,

Tracey