By Dr. Floyd Godfrey

Understanding the Spiritual Roots of Emotional and Relational Growth

When we think about the human heart from a biblical and emotional perspective, it is helpful to imagine it like the root system of a tree. Just as a tree’s strength, growth, and ability to withstand storms depend on its roots, our spiritual and emotional health depends on the condition of our inner life, or our “spiritual root system.” This idea is more than a metaphor; it reflects the way God created us to live in relationship with Him and others, drawing nourishment from emotional honesty, spiritual connection, and relational integrity.

In The Voice of the Heart: A Call to Full Living, Chip Dodd (2015) writes, “God created you and me as emotional and spiritual creatures—created to live fully in relationship with ourselves, with others, and with God” (p. 9). This truth aligns with the biblical view of humanity. Genesis tells us we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and throughout Scripture, we see that God’s nature is relational. He walks with Adam in the garden, speaks to Moses face-to-face, and ultimately comes to dwell among us through Jesus Christ. If God is relational, and we are made in His image, then our design includes a deep need for connection.

Dodd continues, “When you and I live out of our heart-stamped characteristics, we discover our need for relationship” (p. 9). He adds, “Without a doubt, we are relational beings” (p. 9). These observations are not just psychological insights; they reflect a theological truth. Our hearts are wired to connect, and that need for relationship is part of God’s divine imprint. When we ignore or suppress our emotional life, we risk weakening the very roots that are meant to keep us grounded in love and purpose.

The spiritual root system of a person includes a blend of emotional honesty, spiritual awareness, and healthy relational experiences. Dodd suggests that “the heart’s capacity for emotional expression and spiritual relationships can be greater than our own biological instincts” (2015, p. 10). This is a powerful statement. While our physical needs for food, shelter, and safety are essential, the inner life of the heart can be even more crucial to long-term well-being. Without emotional and spiritual nourishment, even the most physically secure person can feel lost, lonely, or empty.

Sadly, many people grow up in environments where their hearts are not nurtured. Dodd writes, “If you grow up in a world where feelings are shamed, needs bastardized, desires thwarted, longings minimized, and hope diminished, then your roots do not receive the nourishment needed for growth” (2015, p. 16). As Christian parents and leaders, we must take this warning seriously. Children and adults require emotional safety and spiritual support. Just as a gardener tends the soil and waters the roots, we are called to create environments where others can thrive spiritually and emotionally.

Churches, families, and pastoral communities are uniquely positioned to nurture these spiritual root systems. Yet we must also recognize that “throughout life all of us have received deep emotional and spiritual wounds, often from the people we trust the most” (Dodd, 2015, p. 16). This reality is difficult but essential to acknowledge. Healing often begins with naming the pain and bringing it into the light, where God can begin to restore what has been broken.

As believers, we are invited to be rooted in Christ. Paul writes in Colossians 2:6–7, “So then, just as you received Christ 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” (NIV). Our spiritual root system thrives when it is planted in Christ’s love and truth. Emotional honesty, relational grace, and spiritual depth flow from that connection.

In practical terms, this means learning to listen to our hearts without shame, engaging in relationships with vulnerability, and turning to God as the source of healing and strength. Whether in the home, the church, or personal devotional life, tending to our spiritual roots is essential.

Let us consider how we can create spaces of authenticity, confession, forgiveness, and compassion. In doing so, we not only strengthen our own roots but also help others develop theirs. A healthy root system produces fruit, and in the life of a believer, that fruit brings glory to God and blessing to others.

Floyd Godfrey PhD is a Board Certified Christian Counselor and has facilitated groups within different churches and denominations over the past 30 years. He worked as a licensed clinician for 23 years and provided supervision and training for other counselors as they worked toward independent licensure. You can read more about Floyd Godfrey PhD at www.FloydGodfrey.com.

References
Dodd, C. (2015). The Voice of the Heart: A Call to full living. Sage Hill.