What if the health of our roots is determined less by what people see and more by what we're willing to bring into the light?
In “The Health of Our Roots” (Called Beyond S3 Ep6), Tim connects with longtime Novo missionaries Steve Hoke and Myra Perrine to explore Jeremiah 17:7–8 and the hidden work of spiritual formation.
Through stories of hardship, healing, vulnerability, and trust, Steve and Myra reflect on how God develops deep roots through authentic relationships.
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
Many of us admire the fruit we see in other people's lives—their wisdom, perseverance, peace, or faithfulness. What we often overlook is the hidden root system that supports it all.
Trust as the “Taproot” of Faith
In this episode, Steve and Myra reflect on what creates healthy roots in a follower of Jesus. Their conclusion isn’t a list of spiritual disciplines or ministry accomplishments. Instead, they point us to something much deeper: trust.
Steve described trust as the "taproot" of faith—the central root that anchors everything else. Over time, life's challenges become opportunities to push that root deeper into the love and grace of God.
Myra echoed that same theme through the lens of authenticity.
Life inevitably brings seasons of drought. Physical pain, disappointment, loss, uncertainty, and unanswered questions are part of every believer's story. Yet those seasons don't have to weaken our faith. When approached honestly, they can become the very places where our roots grow deeper.
Too often, Christians feel pressure to appear strong, positive, and spiritually mature. We learn to hide our struggles, minimize our pain, or avoid difficult emotions altogether.
Myra reminds us that God is a person who desires a real relationship with us. And real relationships require honesty.
The health of our roots depends on our willingness to bring our whole selves before God—the victories and the failures, the joys and the disappointments, the confidence and the fear.
Healthy Roots Grow in Community
One of the most moving moments in this episode emerges from Steve’s reflections on how safe relationships within Novo helped him process parts of his story he had ignored for decades. In a grace-filled environment, he discovered that vulnerability didn't lead to rejection. It led to deeper connection, greater freedom, and a richer experience of God's love.
This is the paradox of the Kingdom:
The path to strength often begins with weakness.
The path to growth often begins with honesty.
The path to deeper roots begins with trust.
And when our roots sink deeply into the love of God, we discover that the invitation of Jeremiah 17 is not merely to survive difficult seasons. It is to become people whose confidence is in the Lord, whose roots run deep, and whose lives continue to bear fruit because they are sustained by something greater than themselves.
Reflection Questions
Where are you currently experiencing heat or drought in your life, and how might God be inviting your roots to grow deeper?
What does your response to stress, uncertainty, or disappointment reveal about where you've placed your trust?
Are there parts of your story that you've never fully processed with God or trusted friends? What might it look like to bring those experiences into the light?
Featured Guests
Steve Hoke has served with Novo for more than 35 years, helping leaders and teams cultivate healthy cultures, spiritual formation, and disciple-making movements around the world. A teacher, mentor, author, and lifelong learner, Steve is passionate about helping people experience the grace of God and discover deeper trust in Jesus through every season of life.
Myra Perrine has served with Novo for more than 30 years, investing in the spiritual formation and development of ministry leaders across the globe. Through mentoring, training, and resource development, she has helped countless people grow in their identity in Christ, experience God's love more deeply, and cultivate lives rooted in authentic faith.