A biodome is a man-made enclosed ecosystem intended to provide ideal conditions for life. Huge glass domes are constructed to house an artificial, controlled environment with purified air and water, healthy soil, and filtered light. Scientists try to select the right combination of plant and animal life to create ideal conditions where people can live isolated from the rest of the world for months at a time.

One thing went wrong as this experiment unfolded. Trees in the biodome would topple over when they grew to a certain height. This baffled scientists until they realized they had forgotten to include the natural element of wind in their artificial ecosystem.

Wind makes trees stronger. Blowing wind will move a tree, which stresses its structure and causes it to grow what is called reaction wood or stress wood. This growth has a different structure than regular wood and helps the tree grow in a more solid way.

Wind also helps trees grow deeper roots. A tree’s roots become thicker and T-shaped on the lee side, while becoming I-shaped on the windward side. The T-shaped roots help absorb the compression forces of the swaying from the wind, while the I-shape helps the roots flex in the wind.

As the root system grows deeper, and the stress wood increases, the tree grows taller and stronger.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

We don’t consider falling into various trials to be a source of joy. Most of us would like to avoid the pain and disruption of such events. We would prefer that God spare us from the winds and waves of life. However, it isn’t God’s plan to put us in a biodome. Our loving Father knows our faith can only be stronger if it is tested. He never allows us to face more than we can endure (1 Cor. 10:13), but He allows us to fall into various trials.

It is the testing of our faith that produces patience, endurance, or steadfastness. This is where you and I develop the stress wood and deep roots necessary to survive and thrive as Christians in this world. Such development is necessary if we are to become “perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The alternative is for us to topple over and die.

Strong trees don’t stand rigid against the wind. They don’t push back. Watch them. Trees bend and sway gracefully as the wind blows against them. They continue to stand strong because they have benefitted from the winds and storms of the past.

How about you and me? God hasn’t placed us in a biodome. He allows the environment of this world filled with sin, sorrow, pain, and death to blow against us. How do we react? Do we despise these challenges and lose our faith in God? Or do we realize that God is our shelter in such storms?

“Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings” (Psalm 61:1-4).

By praying for wisdom (James 1:5) our faith can grow to understand the benefit of facing struggles, embrace them as opportunities for growth, and continue to endure and bear fruit in our lives to God’s glory.