Young Man, Grow Deep Before You Grow Tall
The secret to a life of lasting impact begins in the unseen places.
You want your life to count. Maybe you’ve wasted years chasing empty pleasures, only to realize that time is slipping through your fingers. Now, you’re awake to the call of Christ. You long to serve Him with a passion that redeems the days you’ve lost.
You hear the Lord ask, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” and your heart cries out, “Here I am! Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). But where do you start? How do you make the best use of the time you have left?
The answer is simple, yet profound: grow deep before you grow tall.
Depth Before Height
Ambition for God’s kingdom is good. A young man should want to do great things for Christ. But there is a difference between fruit that lasts and fruit that withers. Those who rush into ministry without deep roots may bear quick results, but they often collapse under the weight of responsibility.
Jesus gives us the key to real fruitfulness in John 15:5 "Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Too many men focus on growing outward building a platform, leading studies, preaching sermons without first growing downward in communion with God. They want to be used by Him, but they neglect to abide in Him. They attempt to extend their branches without anchoring their roots.
But the men who truly change the world are those who have first been changed in the hidden places.
The Danger of Shallow Roots
Have you ever picked up a dead branch from the ground? At one time, it was connected to a thriving tree, but now it lies brittle and lifeless, ready to be burned (John 15:6). This is the fate of many who begin with zeal but fail to abide in Christ.
The church has seen too many pastors, leaders, and influencers who once burned bright but later fell. Why? Because they focused on outward success rather than inward depth. They worked tirelessly for God but failed to walk with God.
Without deep roots in personal holiness, prayer, and dependence on Christ, no ministry can last. A branch disconnected from the Vine may keep its leaves for a season, but eventually, it will wither.
The Secret to Lasting Impact
Jesus does not call us to produce fruit on our own strength. He calls us to abide in Him and promises that if we do, we will bear much fruit (John 15:4). Our calling is not to focus on outcomes, but on faithfulness in the hidden places.
This means:
Seeking God in prayer before seeking the spotlight.
Loving Scripture more than leadership opportunities.
Pursuing holiness in private before preaching it in public.
Prioritizing obedience over ambition.
If we abide in Christ, the fruit will come. But if we pursue fruit apart from abiding, we will end up with nothing.
The Need of the Hour
What does the world need? More gifted speakers? More high-energy leaders? More influencers? No.
The world needs men who have grown deep with God men who are unshakable because they have spent years on their knees. Men who love Jesus more than they love their own success. Men who burn with a passion for God because they have been in His presence.
These are the men who turn the world upside down.
So, young man, grow deep. Let others scramble for the stage while you seek the secret place. Let others fight for recognition while you fight for holiness. Let others chase success while you chase Christ.
In time, He will lift you up.
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