Who anticipates a season of drought followed by brushfires that strip the vegetation from the surrounding hills? This is the reality facing many in southern California. After the smoke cleared people took a breath. Thankfully, the worst was over . . . until it started to rain.
No longer able to absorb water, the barren hills turned to mudslides, wiping out luxury homes. Years of investment . . . gone in an instant. What a waste. Every one of those homes was built on a solid foundation but it wasn’t enough.
A good foundation is important but it’s never enough, especially in marriage. Eventually a careless match will ignite that drought-stricken place in your relationship followed by unrelenting rain. The forces of destruction are moving your way. You’d sooner hold back the tide than those muddy hills and if that is what your solid foundation is built on – mud – withstanding the relational storms of life is highly unlikely.
What is your foundation built on? That is the crux of the matter. If it’s resting on anything other than the Rock, it will shift in the storm inevitably coming your way.
In Matthew 7:24 – 27 Jesus tells the crowd about two men who built houses with foundations – one foolish, one wise. One built on sand, the other on a rock. When the weather was sunny, what was under their foundation didn’t matter. When the rains came, where that foundation was placed made all the difference.
Jesus Christ is The Rock.
Is your marriage built on Jesus Christ? Not what you feel about Him but on Who He is and what He has said? Jesus said the foolish build on a foundation other than Him. When challenges come to your marriage – and they will – what will prevail? The sand and mudslides of your flesh or the Solid Rock of Jesus and what He has said?
Mostly, Jesus wants us to keep our eyes on Him in the midst of the storm. He is there, with us. We forget that sometimes. We’re a lot like Peter who initially trusted Jesus but, as soon as he stepped out of the boat, he focused on the stormy sea and began to sink. Even then, Jesus was still there, ready to rescue Peter . . . and He’s ready to rescue you and me after we’ve taken our eyes off of Him and yet call on His Name.
And, that’s the beautiful thing about The Rock – even if you haven’t built your marriage on Jesus and you find yourself in the storm, you can repent and cling to Him at any time because He stands waiting, in the storm, right beside you, with an open hand.
Storms, fires, mudslides will come in our marriages but The Rock never moves. Build your marriage on the only solid place (Person) to be found this side of heaven. He will see you through any storm.
Check out Matthew and Lisa’s new e-books 100 Ways To Love Your Wife and 100 Ways to Love Your Husband