Two men decided to build their own house. The first man chose to build on sandy soil because it was easy to access and dig the foundations. His house felt safe. It was cosy and warm inside.
The second man chose to build his house on a rocky hill, where it was very hard to access and dig the foundation. He spent many more months than the first man building his house.
Years later, a huge storm came. The winds and water beat upon the houses and the first man's house that was built on sand was swept away. But the second man’s house remained solid and immovable.
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Take a moment to consider what foundations you have built your life upon. What and/or whom do you rely upon to feel safe? How do you feel when your foundations are being threatened (e.g. money, job, health) during this storm?
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When things are flowing - your job is secure, you have money in your account, your health is intact, and there are no outside threatening forces at your doorstep, it’s easy to fall into the false illusion that you are the "sole captain of your ship" and that you have built your house on solid rock.
But when the storms of life come upon us and the rain beats down on all of our houses some will begin to feel like they are standing on unpredictable sinking sand that keeps moving and shifting beyond their control.
This realization that we are not in complete control of our lives affects people in a myriad of ways. Some will desperately try to micromanage all that is still within their domain and control to gain a sense of power and sanity (i.e., clean and reorganize the house top to bottom and draft up extensive “to-do lists” to keep busy). Some will feel helpless, fearful, and anxious and act those feelings out in a plethora of ways. Some will do their best to remain positive as they desperately try to filter their news intake and attempt to control their thoughts and reactions to the storm. And yet others may reach the ends of themselves and be ready to admit that what they were holding onto (past pillars of strength, security, faith, and beliefs) is no longer serving them.
Jesus said,
“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: 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.
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: 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 7:24-2
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