Fall is my favorite time of the year as it brings forth the true colors of God’s creation. Fall unfolds upon a foundation of evergreens overlaid by the golden and crimson tones from the trees that surrender their leaves. We can discern much from nature as she offers much wisdom through careful observance. Let’s talk a look at the physiological process of the deciduous trees.
The Science Behind the Beauty
Understanding the physiology makes this transformation even more meaningful. During spring and summer, trees continuously produce chlorophyll in their leaves. This green pigment captures sunlight and powers photosynthesis, allowing the tree to make food and grow. The chlorophyll is so abundant that it masks other pigments—yellows, oranges, and reds—that are actually present in the leaf all year long.
As autumn approaches and days shorten, deciduous trees begin preparing for winter dormancy. They form a barrier at the base of each leaf stem, cutting off the flow of water and nutrients. Chlorophyll production ceases, and existing chlorophyll rapidly breaks down. With the green pigment gone, the leaf’s true colors—the carotenoids and anthocyanins that were always there—are finally revealed in brilliant displays of yellow, orange, and red.
When Drought Reveals Our Preparedness
But here’s where it gets really interesting: there are factors that affect how vibrant those true colors will be. For example, if we have a really dry summer, the fall color will not be as prominent as if we had normal rainfall. When a tree has proper rainfall throughout the growing season, it stores appropriate nutrients that allow the leaf to show brighter colors that last much longer than if the tree has endured a season of trial.
During drought, trees face tremendous stress. They close their leaf pores to conserve water, but this also cuts off carbon dioxide needed for photosynthesis. The chlorophyll still absorbs sunlight, but with nowhere to channel that energy, it begins breaking down faster than the tree can replace it. Meanwhile, the drought prevents the tree from absorbing the nitrogen and other nutrients it needs to make new chlorophyll. The tree weakens, and when fall comes, its colors may be dull or the leaves may drop prematurely.
A well-watered tree, however, maintains robust chlorophyll production all summer long. It photosynthesizes efficiently, builds strong reserves of nutrients, and when autumn arrives, it reveals brilliant, long-lasting colors. The tree was prepared.
Nature’s Prophetic Wisdom
The natural seasons can teach us a lot about our seasons of life, because nature seems to always know what’s coming. For example, trees that produce nuts—which many animals rely on for survival—will sometimes have an overabundance of nuts during the fall. This typically indicates a hard, long winter ahead, and the animals that depend on these nuts will store more in reserves. They just seem to know.
Our True Colors Under Pressure
This is profoundly true in our own lives. Scripture tells us to be like a tree planted by streams of living water—one whose “leaf does not wither” and that “yields its fruit in season” (Psalm 1:3, Jeremiah 17:8). If we stay planted and plugged in to the source of living water, then we will get what we need, and we will have in store what we need for the long trials that are sure to come.
Just as a tree needs constant access to water to maintain its chlorophyll and stay spiritually vibrant, we need continuous connection to God to remain spiritually healthy. A tree can’t stockpile enough water to last indefinitely—it requires ongoing access to its source. Similarly, our faith requires daily renewal through prayer, scripture, and fellowship with God.
Under pressure, we will always show our true colors. If we have been properly tied in to the source of living water—if we’ve spent our “growing season” staying connected to God, absorbing His word, and storing up spiritual nutrients—then our colors will shine bright when trials come. We will endure for the season we are meant to endure, standing firm and displaying the beauty that was being developed in us all along.
But if we go into trials unprepared—if we’ve endured a spiritual drought, neglecting our connection to the living water—then we will struggle and fall immediately. Our true colors will still be revealed, but they may be faded, weak, and short-lived, like the dull autumn leaves of a drought-stressed tree.
The beauty of fall reminds us that what’s hidden will eventually be revealed. The question is: what have we been storing up? When the green facade of comfortable seasons is stripped away and our true colors are exposed, will they shine brightly because we stayed rooted in living water, or will they reveal the weakness of spiritual neglect?
Nature teaches us to prepare, to stay connected, and to trust that God provides what we need not just for today, but for the winter seasons ahead.
J. Jones