A Firm Foundation
This blog was inspired by reading my cousins’ FB post a few days ago. They are celebrating their 8th anniversary and Adriane’s words remind me of our faith journey:
“Today we celebrate eight years of marriage. EIGHT?!? How can time move so slowly and so quickly at the same time? As I reflect on this past year, what stands out the most is God’s miraculous provision for our family.
This past year brought about the loss of both mine and Chad’s tutoring jobs (1/3 of our income), just as gas prices began to soar and inflation rose in every sector of life. This financial squeeze has presented some massive challenges for us.
As we have sought God for His plan for our family, we have learned what full dependency and true faith in God really looks like. We’ve gone from fighting against circumstances to leaning into rest and finding peace in the still, quiet voice of our Father.
Over the course of the last twelve months, God has provided miraculously for us and gone above meeting our needs. Though we both still have our moments struggling with surrendering our plans to a higher plan, I’m so thankful that God has given us this past year to not only grow closer to Him, but closer to one another as well. In a material sense, year eight has been nothing short of challenging.
However, in a spiritual sense, it’s been our most rewarding year together. I love you, Chad and have fallen more in love with you this year as you’ve navigated our ship into deeper waters. Here’s another year of growth, contentment, and joy.”
I heard our story in their story! The struggles and tough times created the fortitude and true grit that came from loving, serving and trusting God. Our journey grew sweeter and sweeter as the years went by and the journey was worth it!
Like me, could you hear in Adriane’s words that they were building their home on a “Solid-Rock” foundation. I know about foundations of buildings, homes, AND people. When prevailing winds and storms come (and they will), what is it that keeps structures firmly standing? What is it that gives the strength, will, and determination to outlast the storms of life?
My personal “ROCK-solid” foundation came because of having parents that loved and served God with all their hearts and modeled that love to me daily. Sure, it took methodical training, teaching and living the example before me.
My husband built several of our homes. It seemed the foundation part of building those homes took forever. But he was ensuring that those homes were being built on firm foundation — so much so that he reinforced the foundation with steel and concrete.
That’s what my parents were doing when they took me to church to reinforce everything they were teaching me at home. I learned and memorized scriptures that supported my faith and God’s love for me. Those scriptures have been my lifeline throughout my life.
I remember Robert Schuller’s book entitled “Tough Times Don’t Last – But Tough People Do!” I’ve known some tough people that weathered some of the greatest storms of life and they did so because of their Anchor, their Rock, their Fortress Who was their FIRM foundation.
Maybe your foundation feels a little shaky today. Your faith and emotions may be getting the best of you and you are wondering if you’ll survive the storms that surround you. The first part of Jesus’ parable about the builders goes like this: “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……”
Begin to reinforce and build that firm foundation of Jesus Christ in you and your family’s lives. He is that ROCK-solid foundation that will give you the stability your heart and life needs now and in the future.
Like my cousins did, trust in Him and His ability to carry you through the toughest of storms and that in doing so, you will never be shaken but will stand….and stand strong!
“On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!”