Unshaken
Matthew 7:24-27 tells the story of the wise and foolish builders, a story that we've all heard since we were children. Maybe you even sang the song as you wiggled your fingers and performed the hand motions. "Oh! The rains came down as the floods came up! The rains came down as the floods came up..." It makes a cute Bible school story with catchy songs and colorful felt-board figures, but it's not so easy if you are actually in the middle of the storm. The real storm rips the color out of life, steals the melody from our love, and leaves us hopelessly surrounded by raging and unpredictable weather.
"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house."
From above, the rains pelted the roof.
From below, the streams rose with increasing intensity every hour.
From all sides, the winds ripped and tore at every wall, every corner, and every crevice.
From below, beneath, and all around. From every angle and every direction. Surrounded. The pressure of the storm left no surface untouched....except the foundation.
"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had it's foundation on the rock."
Even if 100 mile an hour winds are ripping at your sides, even if heavy rains are pounding on your roof, even if the raging river below you is rising so fast that you can't seem to keep your toes out of the water, know that your foundation is stronger than the storm. Although the furious tempest is pressing in on you at all sides and from all angles, it is not pressing on your foundation. Your foundation, the Rock, is unaltered, unshaken, unintimidated.
When the winds howl and the waters rise and the rains pound on your life, it is my prayer that your eyes will not focus on the storm that surrounds you, but on the foundation that strongly supports you. It does not move; it does not shake; it does not leak! Your Almighty Father, Merciful Savior, Deliverer, Defender, Redeemer, Keeper, Sustainer, and Shepherd is also your Forever-Firm Foundation. And your house is built on Him. He will hold you and keep you from shaking. The winds will howl and the rains will pound, but His grasp of grace will not let your ground shake. Under His protection, your roof won't even leak.
"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house."
From above, the rains pelted the roof.
From below, the streams rose with increasing intensity every hour.
From all sides, the winds ripped and tore at every wall, every corner, and every crevice.
From below, beneath, and all around. From every angle and every direction. Surrounded. The pressure of the storm left no surface untouched....except the foundation.
"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had it's foundation on the rock."
Even if 100 mile an hour winds are ripping at your sides, even if heavy rains are pounding on your roof, even if the raging river below you is rising so fast that you can't seem to keep your toes out of the water, know that your foundation is stronger than the storm. Although the furious tempest is pressing in on you at all sides and from all angles, it is not pressing on your foundation. Your foundation, the Rock, is unaltered, unshaken, unintimidated.
When the winds howl and the waters rise and the rains pound on your life, it is my prayer that your eyes will not focus on the storm that surrounds you, but on the foundation that strongly supports you. It does not move; it does not shake; it does not leak! Your Almighty Father, Merciful Savior, Deliverer, Defender, Redeemer, Keeper, Sustainer, and Shepherd is also your Forever-Firm Foundation. And your house is built on Him. He will hold you and keep you from shaking. The winds will howl and the rains will pound, but His grasp of grace will not let your ground shake. Under His protection, your roof won't even leak.
"Don't be afraid. I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine! When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're in between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end - because I am God, your Personal God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior. I paid a huge price for you. That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you!
Isaiah 43:1-4 (The Message)
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