I woke up today in a beautiful home on the Costal Carolina beach. The wind is whipping and as it howls across the inlet, I can only imagine what a hurricane would be like here. This home has the thickest doors I have ever seen. They are as thick as my index finger is long. The house is elevated and equipped with hurricane shutters. There is a clearly defined emergency plan for when a storm hits.
I have been living in a storm that has battered me with hurricane strength winds recently. I have suffered some “busted beams” and “shattered windows”, and as the wind continues to howl around me, I have learned a lot.
I know that I get off track and often find my strength and value in relationships. Everything feels sunny and 75 when the relationships with my family and friends are healthy and whole, but when there is friction or fissures, my knees get weak and posture crumbles.
Relationships shift and building your hope on them leads to instability. Building your hope on health or wealth or kids or adventure, success or achievement is precarious too. Our only sure foundation is to build our hope on Jesus Christ and His righteousness.
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)
I needed to read and learn from these verses today. If I build my house or hope on anything other than the ROCK, I will crumble. The verse doesn’t say that my boards won’t buckle. It takes into account that some of my windows might get shattered. Storms rage and they leave destruction in their wake, but when the storm passes, the house with the firm foundation is still standing. I hope you will claim that with me.
To remain upright, we must build our house on the rock, but when we know the storm is coming, we also should use every resource to prepare for the monsoon. In stormy season, we need our emergency kits. We need a plan and sometimes we need to board up our windows. There is great wisdom in filling up our “gas tank”. Mine needs to be filled with scripture and hymns. I have my fire and rescue team of prayer warriors and I have had to lock the doors to some harmful and unnecessary things until the stormy season is over. God’s will for my life is not health and happiness and sunny and 75 degree-days. He is so good and He may bless me with all of those things in due season. His will for my life is my sanctification and sometimes He uses storms to sanctify. All Praise and glory belong to Him. He will hold me up. He alone will keep me from crumbling. He is my rock and my foundation.
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification” 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NKJV)
“Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me;
For I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am holy;
You are my God;
Save Your servant who trusts in You!
Be merciful to me, O Lord,
For I cry to You all day long.
Rejoice the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
And attend to the voice of my supplications.
In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.” Psalm 86:1-7 (NKJV)