When Our Foundation Feels Shaken

Matthew 7:24-27, NIV

“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 rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

To build our house upon the rock—to have a foundation that withstands the storm—we must not only hear the words of God, we must also practice them. 

And sometimes this can be difficult. 

Sometimes we don’t even realize we’re not practicing them, until we realize that we feel a little shaken—just like we talked about last week. 

So, when our foundation feels a little shaken or a little cracked, it’s an indication that there’s a discrepancy somewhere between our hearing and our doing. 

And, while of course this can refer to sin, it more often refers to things like:

• We hear the Word say trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding—but we find ourselves in despair because we don’t understand.

• We hear the Word say whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things—but our emotions and our mood are shaky because we’re thinking on things that are opposite of this list.

• We hear the Word say give thanks in all circumstances—but we find ourselves complaining.

• We hear the Word say don’t worry about anything—but we’re stuck in an endless cycle of “what-if’s.”

In order to have a house built upon the rock—a house strong and steady when the rain comes—we must not only know these things, we must practice them. 

The Word works when it is practiced.

Oh Lord, thank You for the life instructions you give us in Your Word, and help us to DO the things we hear. Amen.