Prepare For Trials - March 10

Read Matthew 7:24-27

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Reflect

Spiritually speaking, how does someone build their life on the Rock?

As I am writing this, my home state of Nebraska is recovering from several tornadoes that touched down across our state. For many of the people impacted by these storms, it probably started as just a normal Friday afternoon, and they were looking forward to the weekend. But in a matter of minutes, everything changed. Roofs were ripped off their homes and walls were blown down. In the news footage, some homes appear as if they were cut in half while others are completely leveled. Cars and even a train were flipped over and trees were uprooted…the destruction is immense.

Thankfully, it seems that people were as prepared as they could be for a natural disaster like this. They knew what to do in the event of a tornado warning, they had access to sufficient shelter, and they had adequate warning so that they could take cover quickly. People have gotten wiser as they build with basements, cellars, or storm shelters. We can receive weather alerts on our phones now and we don’t have to be near sirens, watching the TV, or listening to the radio in order to know what is coming our way. As a result, casualties from tornadoes have declined in our state from years past. Praise God!

We all know that suffering like this is a “when” in life, not an “if.” So, we take precautions and protect our physical selves and our physical stuff. But what do we do to ensure the safety of our souls? We know that we need to be physically prepared for certain trials, like tornadoes and other natural disasters. But have you ever considered the necessity of spiritual preparations for trials?

In today’s passage, Jesus told a parable about a wise man who built his house on a rock and a foolish man who built his house on the sand. When the storms came, the wise man’s house was able to withstand them, but the foolish man’s house was destroyed. His point was that it’s always wise to build on a firm foundation.

But Jesus wasn’t really talking about building physical houses, was He? No, Jesus was talking about building our lives. Jesus said that the wise man was someone who heard His words and then put them into practice. People who trust in Christ and obey Him out of faith are building their lives on a Firm Foundation—one that can never be shaken.

The reality is that some people in my home state were spiritually prepared for Friday’s tornado outbreak and some were not. Some believers experienced damage to their homes but they are not losing their faith. They know that God is still good and that He is still in control. They still have a hope for the future in the midst of great loss. They are going through the terrible Ts (trouble, temptations, trials, tribulations, and trauma), but they aren’t losing heart. The tornado took their homes, but their lives were built upon the Rock of Jesus Christ. They trust in a Firm Foundation.

But that isn’t true for everyone. Some may be questioning God right now. They may even be cursing Him for allowing this disaster to happen. Or, they don’t believe that there is a God at all. If their life was built upon their stuff and their trust was in their possessions, they must be reeling right now. They must be feeling so hopeless.

Times like these remind us of the importance of being spiritually prepared. Just like people save up money “for a rainy day,” we can build up our faith by saving up “for a rainy day.” Small deposits over time will add up to a lot. So, tuck Scripture deep into your heart. Read it, memorize it, post it all over your house as a reminder. Sing hymns! They will fill your heart with truth that will come to you in the form of a beautiful song when you need it most. Ask the hard questions now and search the Scriptures for the answers. Make regularly communicating with God through prayer an important part of your life. Investing your time and energy in a spiritual fitness routine will always be worth it!

You can spiritually prepare for the worst by building your life on the Rock—Jesus Christ.

Respond

I love you, LORD, my strength. You are my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, in whom I take refuge. You are my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:1-2). Help me continue to grow spiritually and strengthen my faith in You so that I will be prepared for the terrible Ts, whenever they come. Amen.

Reveal

Consider how you can help a friend or loved one be spiritually prepared for trials before they come. Pray with them, share Scripture, send them a link or the lyrics to a hymn that has been meaningful to you, etc.