Psalm 127 is a good reminder for those of us who are raising a family, building a strong marriage, or simply setting up house. 

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. ~ Psalm 127:1

The words deliver a message to us wherever we are in life, but the root of that message remains the same: whatever we set out to build must be laid upon a firm foundation. If there’s anything I’ve learned about being a wife and a mother, that would definitely be it: firm up your foundation.

I remember the night like it was yesterday. I’ll never forget that feeling of helplessness that hung in the room while the nurse stood by my side–waiting for someone to give us an answer.

What was happening to my son? It wasn’t said–it didn’t have to be. We knew that he was struggling to stay alive while a team of doctors worked to find a solution. 

Only six-weeks-old and he was facing complicated surgery. We were told that his operation was an incredibly difficult one. That because of the extent of the procedure we had to wait until the six-week mark. Until that time his health was dangling by a thread with a ureter that could erupt at any given time. He had a serious issue with his kidneys that required immediate attention, but because of the severity we waited until he was strong enough to go under anesthetics.

Every night during those weeks of waiting, our newborn slept with a New Testament open on his tummy. It was a symbol to us and to our child that we were placing him into the hands of our Lord. 

It was finally over, or so we thought.

Hustling around the room the nurse kept herself busy asking me questions to take my mind off of the problem at hand. Do you have any other children? How long have you been married? Have you always lived in this city?… Her sudden interest in me at three in the morning told me that she was seeing the same thing that I was. What had started out as a puffy spot beneath his eye increased. We were now looking at an infant whose entire face was swollen beyond recognition. 

It was a horrific sight and one of the toughest experiences I’ve ever faced as a mother. But in that moment of darkness when all there was to hang on to was hope, I had a sure and steady rock I could lean on that carried me through. 

That’s what Psalm 127 says to me. Build your house upon the rock–for when the rain comes, and it will, you will have firm place where you can stand and say, “It it well.” 

The Lord knows those times that I pace or call a friend with my problems before getting down on my knees. Those many times when I’m failing to rest–when I’m failing to lean. Those times when I take my eyes off the Savior to look down at the water beneath me while that sinking feeling sets in. His grace carries me through as I learn to lean a little more every day. And while I do, I’m learning the importance of building that place where I can run to for shelter.

We have stop and ask ourselves why: 

Why are we raising these children? So they’ll grow up to be good citizens, or faithful warriors in the kingdom of God?

Why do we enter into marriage? So that we have a life-long companion, or so that we might reflect the covenant of our Lord Jesus Christ and His faithful Bride?

Why do we keep a good house? So that our family will be proud of us, or so that we may serve others as unto the Lord?

And so you might ask, can’t we have both? The answer is absolutely, and I pray that you will!

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife

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