On the afternoon of March 31, 2023, an EF3 tornado struck and devastated parts of Central Arkansas. If you drove through the aftermath of that storm back then, you probably haven’t forgotten the scene. Unbelievable wreckage. Personal belongings strewn about in places they shouldn’t be. Beloved family homes turned inside-out.

Storms have a way of revealing what’s on the inside. They test the infrastructure and uncover the issues. They strip away the façade and expose the foundation.

That’s what we have seen in Matthew 7:24-27. Likely, those two houses were comparable on the surface. They probably looked similar while the sun was out. But when the storm came, their differences became apparent. The floodwaters divulged the truth about their foundations. Those strong winds proved which builder was wise and which was foolish. And only one was left with regrets.

It is certainly easier, cheaper, and faster to build on the sand – on success, human approval, intellect, money, beauty, and other desirable things. But when the trials of life come…when the rains of temptation, stress, illness or tragedy beat down on your life… Will your house stand?

Building on the rock is much more costly and time-consuming. It requires a commitment to patience and an unpopular denial of lesser things. But ask anyone who has survived a storm if it was worth it.

Every single day of reading and obeying the Bible won’t feel especially profound. But the cumulative effect of many days and then years of it will produce significant results. It will prove to be a trustworthy foundation.

In this world, we will have trouble...cancer, emotional pain, financial strain, difficulties in marriage or parenting or singleness, among many other things. The storms will come. And when they do, what has always mattered will become the only thing that matters.

Which builder are you? Will your house stand?

PRAY

Would you read Matthew 7:24-27 once more? Then take time to be honest before your Heavenly Father. Recall specific storms you’ve endured. What did they reveal about your foundation? Ask Him to strengthen you through His Word for whatever lies ahead.