Dear Brothers and sisters,
Have you ever wished that we could prepare for the hardest moments in life before they happen? We have. We know the pain of navigating a broken relationship or the shock of receiving a medical diagnosis that we never expected. We have all struggled with these types of things over time, and we know how heavy that weight can be.
We didn’t anticipate those moments, and we doubt you did either. But the good news is that Jesus tells us how we can get ready for those storms.
In Matthew 7:24, He says: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
The context of this verse is powerful. Jesus spent three full chapters in the Sermon on the Mount teaching about everything: money, prayer, conflict, seeking His kingdom, and even dealing with life’s worries. He wasn’t just giving us a philosophy; He was giving us a blueprint for spiritual growth.
Notice what happens after the man builds his house on the rock: The storm comes. The rain falls, the winds blow, and the waters rise. Following Jesus doesn’t make us immune to adversity or suffering. In John 16:33, He even promised, “In this world you will have trouble.”
However, while we cannot avoid the storm, we can absolutely experience God in the middle of it. We do this by putting His words into practice before the wind starts to blow. When we act on His teachings, we are building a foundation that won’t crumble when life gets heavy.
Question:
Why do we often try to handle our deepest struggles on our own before finally leaning into Jesus?
Answer:
If we are being honest, we try to handle life on our own because we are prideful and fearful. We want to be the architects of our own lives, and we believe that if we just work hard enough, save enough money, or fix our own behaviors, we can prevent the storm. But when we rely on our own strength to fix a broken relationship or manage a health crisis, we eventually run out of steam.
The truth is that we weren’t designed to carry those burdens alone. We only find true stability when we stop trying to be the foundation ourselves and start building our lives entirely on the words of Jesus.
A Prayer for Strength
Dear Lord,
Thank You for being our firm foundation. Forgive us for the times we’ve tried to build our lives on our own strength or our own understanding. Help us to stop just reading Your Word and start living it out. When the storms of life come—the unexpected diagnoses, the broken relationships, and the financial strains—give us the courage to lean into You instead of running on our own power. Teach us to seek You in the calm so that we are ready for the chaos, knowing that You are with us in every moment. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
If this message resonates with you, put a “man” in the comments and share this with somebody that you love.
11/4/26