Faith and The Bamboo Tree
When we give our lives to Jesus, we’re making a monumental decision—a choice to surrender, to trust, and to follow. But the journey of faith doesn’t end with that initial moment. Faith is a daily choice, a continual commitment to trust God through life’s uncertainties, joys, and trials. It’s not always easy, but it’s a process that transforms us from the inside out.
This daily walk of faith becomes especially profound when we consider the life of Jesus. His birth, celebrated as the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem humanity, is the foundation of our hope. Jesus came to earth, fully God and fully man, to demonstrate God’s love and show us what it means to live a life rooted in faith and obedience. His life, death, and resurrection remind us that God’s plan is always at work, even when it isn’t immediately visible.
I recently learned an analogy of the bamboo tree and our own growth and it made me think about how in many ways, the story of Jesus mirrors the lessons of the bamboo tree.
The bamboo tree doesn’t grow like most plants. For years after its seed is planted, there’s no visible growth above the soil. It can feel as if nothing is happening, as if all the effort—the watering, the tending, the waiting—is in vain. But beneath the surface, the bamboo is doing vital work. Its roots are spreading deep and wide, creating the foundation necessary to support the towering growth that is to come.
Now, think of the way Jesus came into the world—born in a humble manger, far from the grandeur or attention one might expect for the Savior of the world. For 30 years, His life was relatively quiet, spent working as a carpenter in Nazareth. To those watching, it may have seemed like nothing extraordinary was happening. But just as the bamboo tree grows its roots in silence, Jesus was being prepared for His purpose.
Then, in God’s perfect timing, Jesus’ public ministry began. The three short years of His teachings, miracles, and ultimate sacrifice on the cross changed the course of history forever. His life wasn’t just a towering display of God’s power—it was the fulfillment of the unseen, steady work God had been doing all along, through generations of prophecy and promise.
When we reflect on Jesus’ life, we’re reminded of what it truly means to choose faith daily. Jesus lived a life of constant trust in the Father. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the weight of the cross, He chose faith: “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). His unwavering trust in God’s plan gives us the ultimate example of how to root ourselves in faith, even when life feels overwhelming.
And here is where the lesson of the bamboo tree intersects with the celebration of Christ’s birth. The bamboo tree doesn’t shoot up overnight—it spends years building a strong root system beneath the surface. In the same way, our growth in faith often begins in the quiet, unseen moments of our lives. Every prayer, every moment spent meditating on God’s Word, every act of obedience—these are the roots we’re growing in preparation for the seasons of visible growth to come.
This Christmas season, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s remember that our own spiritual growth follows a similar pattern. Just as God was working His plan of redemption through the quiet years of Jesus’ life, He is working in the quiet moments of our lives, too. Even when we can’t see it, He is strengthening our roots so we can stand tall in faith.
So, as you celebrate Jesus’ birth, remember that He is both the reason for our faith and the perfect example of how to live it out. Keep choosing faith every day. Keep trusting that God is at work in the unseen places of your heart. Like the bamboo tree, your time to flourish will come. And when it does, it will be a testament to the faithfulness of God, the power of Jesus’ life, and the beauty of a heart rooted deeply in Him.