Building a House on the Rock
“Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.” —MATTHEW 7:24-25 (BSB)
There are some truths that we need to stand on. These are the truths that help carry us through the most unthinkable of moments, truths that we can find ourselves wrapped inside of and comforted by. Truths that are wider and deeper than the trite platitudes that we here at Everything Happens love to debunk. (What doesn’t kill you doesn’t always make you stronger, Aileen!) When our lives are coming undone, we no longer have the patience for feeble attempts to repair or want to gloss over the pain that we are experiencing. There are often no words that can fill the aching gap. The fix that is needed is a solid one, a fulsome one that restores and brings peace. I think that must be what Jesus meant when he said to build your house on the rock. When the storms inevitably come (notice he doesn’t say “if” or “in case of emergencies”), we need something firmer to stand upon.
By coming to earth, Jesus came as our firm foundation—one of love, truth, compassion, and long-faithfulness—not empty niceties. It is here where we can find rest from the storm and truths we can stand on.
REFLECT
1. Think back to your stormiest of seasons. What false truths did you have to let go of? What did you discover to be true about yourself even then? About God?
2. Jesus’ birth was the fulfillment of the promises of God. The promise that God loves and cares for us enough to come to earth to be with us. Jesus came not only to sit with us through the storms, but to bring peace. Imagine Jesus sitting with you today. What words of comfort, hope, and peace does Jesus’ presence offer you?
RESPOND
Grab a piece of paper and start a list. Write down what is true about God, about you, about your community, and about the world. Revisit this list in a couple of days and make sure what you listed is still true. This could be helpful to return to during the storms of life—some truths you can stand on.
TRUTHS ABOUT GOD
TRUTHS ABOUT ME
TRUTHS ABOUT MY COMMUNITY
TRUTHS ABOUT THE WORLD
A Blessing for Telling the Truth
Blessed are you, pulling on courage like a warm coat, when you are in thenfirst cold blasts of a storm.
Blessed are you, finding shelter in telling the truth about what has come.
Beginning to name your feelings and letting them flow.
Telling the truth about where you are.
Not from where you think you should be, or would like to be, but from the center of the truth as you know it.
Because this is precisely the place where God will meet you.
Blessed are you, beginning to have an inkling that what once grounded you is still there at the heart of things.
Those deeper, wider truths are your place to stand.
That love wins, and that kindness will prevail.
And that at your core,nyou are not only lovable, but deeply, deeply loved.
And in the meantime, blessed are you noticing the few small and useful things that can be done, even now, to make it a little better for somebody.
Maybe even you.
GOING DEEPER
When our lives come undone, perhaps through grief or divorce or addiction, we need truths we can stand upon. The Reverend Tom Long speaks with Kate about how to tell the truth in the hardest moments. Listen to their full conversation on “Number Our Days” (42 min).