What does it look like to grow in the fruit of the Spirit?
In my garden, I’ve grown tomatoes—carefully watering and weeding until the white and yellow flowers turn into ripe, red fruit. Then, we enjoy the "fruit" of our labor in sandwiches, salsa, and salads.
But growing spiritual fruit doesn’t always feel that simple, does it?
We do our best to weed out temptation and fertilize the soil of our hearts with God’s Word, yet we can still wonder if God is really changing us. It’s hard to notice growth when it feels so slow.
In Deep Roots, Good Fruit: Seeing the Fruit of the Spirit through Story and Scripture, Kristin Couch offers an encouraging reminder that God is always at work, even when we don’t see immediate results. Through stories from her own life, she helps us see how the Spirit is cultivating this fruit in the everyday moments of our lives.
Deep Roots, Good Fruit | Book Review
Content
Purpose of the Book
As the Holy Spirit cultivates Christlike qualities in us, the slow process of sanctification can sometimes feel discouraging, especially when progress is hard to see. Kristin Couch writes to encourage readers in their everyday faithfulness, reminding them that God is always at work. Through vivid stories of people in her life, she paints a picture of what these fruits look like in practice.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Under New Ownership
1 Love: A Heart That Gives
2 Joy: Holding on to Jesus
3 Peace: The Calm in the Storm
4 Patience; The Secret Ingredient
5 Kindness: A Place of Refuge
6 Goodness: Uprightness of Heart and Life
7 Faithfulness: Fidelity to the Finish Line
8 Gentleness: Humble Strength
9 Self-Control: A Passionate Restraint
Summary
The author beautifully weaves story and Scripture to capture images of life and moments to illustrate fruitfulness in our ordinary lives. Each chapter focuses on one of the fruits of the Spirit described by Paul in his letter to the Galatian church in Galatians 5:22-23.
My Take: When Fruit is a Measure
🍅 If you’re like me, you may have taken the familiar fruit of the Spirit and turned it into a measuring stick of perfection, only to feel deeply discouraged when you realize how far short you fall.
🍇 In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul begins by reminding the church of their freedom in Christ. They are no longer bound by the Old Testament law of circumcision but are called to display outward signs of a Christlike life. He instructs them to live differently from the world—not to gratify their fleshly desires, but to choose a life that reflects the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
🍉 Still feels like a measuring stick?
🍑 God promises to complete the good work He began in us, and this process flows out of grace. As Dallas Willard writes, “Grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning.” This distinction is helpful when we feel the need to "measure up," because it reveals an underlying mindset of earning something. Paul contrasts a life driven by the flesh with one led by the Spirit, reminding us that while the Spirit does the transforming work, we also have a role—to intentionally set our hearts and minds toward Christ.
🥝 As we consider the fruit of the Spirit, it’s easy to feel discouraged when we don’t see instant growth. But God’s grace reminds us that it’s a process—one in which we participate by setting our hearts on Christ, while trusting Him to bear the fruit.
🍒 So, rather than focusing on how well you’re measuring up, ask yourself: In what ways is God already at work in me, cultivating deeper roots and preparing to bear good fruit in His time?
My Recommendation
The vivid, relatable stories in Deep Roots, Good Fruit help bring biblical truths to life in a way that's both relevant and tangible. If you’ve been studying—or are curious about—the fruit of the Spirit in your own life, this book will encourage meaningful reflection.
🚨Freebie alert! The publisher put together a 9 day Bible reading plan, complete with space for journaling as you reflect on the fruit of the Spirit.
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 160
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Scriptures About Bearing Fruit
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you (John 15:16)
So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23)
So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits (Matt. 7:17-20)
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit (Jer. 17:7-8)
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*A big thanks to the Good Book Company for the complimentary e-copy of this book, and for the opportunity to post. an honest review!