Rooted in Christ and Growing

Posted by: Chris Lake, On-Air Host | Monday, September 14th, 2026 ( 9:09am)

So then, just as you received Chris Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.—Colossians 2:6-7

I love a good story. Recently, some of the different storytelling groups I’m a part of have highlighted origin stories; moments in life that provide a turning point of learning, growth, or a start for new adventures. I’ve heard about people running marathons for the first time or earning a high school diploma, and others that centered on the value of simply stepping out to try something new. Whatever the story, each had one thing in common: they were all rooted in a core moment that grew over time.

One of my origin stories, rooted way back in the last century, rebloomed right here at WCSG.

In my basement I have several boxes filled with old cassettes. Awhile back I started sorting through air-check tapes from my early days as a radio announcer. Feeling a bit nostalgic, I popped one in the cassette deck and heard a younger me practicing baseball play-by-play and introducing songs as an overnight disc jockey.

I thought it would be fun to digitize the tapes so my kids and grandkids could listen too. I figured we'd get some laughs out of hearing what I sounded like back then. What I didn’t know, however, was that God was also using this root from my past to grow new fruit in my future.

See, it was around that time when I happened upon a radio host opening at WCSG. I can’t quite explain WHY I felt a tug at my heart, but it seemed like every time I tuned in that weekend I heard “God’s story through your story.” For a guy who loves listening to and telling stories of faith, it seemed like I should at least pray to see where the Holy Spirit was leading me. I remember talking to my wife Dawnette and getting her encouragement as well. The tug at my heart continued, so I took those digitized copies from my past and used them to apply for the role.

The strange thing was that this job was not in my master plan. My last on-air experience was over 20 years ago. Yet suddenly, something that had been part of my past was sitting in front of me again and a possible future.

And I wasn't sure I was ready. I wondered whether I still remembered how to do this. Was I good enough? Had too much time passed?

But I got the job, and God kept the encouragement coming one step at a time. Early on I got a hand-written card that expressed gratitude that I joined WCSG. My colleagues provided feedback and support that grew my confidence. Today, the highlight of my week is coming in to WCSG to just sit and laugh and walk through life with people both on and off the air.

Looking back, I can see that those early years in radio weren't wasted. In fact, God used that time in my life to plant seeds that would take time to firmly root and grow. God used the last couple of decades to shape me, teach me, and prepare me for something I didn’t see coming.

I see now that by revisiting those tapes, God wasn’t calling me backward, He was calling me forward.

We tend to think of roots as something that keep us in one place, but we forget that roots lead to outward growth. Being rooted in Christ doesn't mean staying comfortable or doing the same things we've always done. It means having a foundation strong enough to follow God when He asks us to move.

That's what I think Paul means when he tells us to be “rooted and built up” in Christ. Our roots aren't supposed to keep us from moving. They give us the confidence to grow, reach up to the sun, and eventually bloom for a season.

I don’t have to know exactly where God is leading. Honestly, I’m OK with that. I simply need to remain rooted in Christ and attentive to where He is leading me next through the Holy Spirit.

So, where are you at today? Is God nudging you toward something unexpected? Maybe you're questioning whether you're ready or wondering if you're hearing Him correctly. Don’t let comfort with where you are rooted right now stop you from allowing new growth to take place. Listen for God’s voice, look for the seeds He’s planted, and let the fruit of His plan for you flourish.