Resting On Him
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. Matthew 7:24-27
Over time, I have noticed that my relationships have steadily become clearer day by day. This growing clarity has been particularly evident in my marriage. My wife and I have become closer as the years have passed, and this closeness is not simply a result of spending more time together. What has truly strengthened our bond is our ability to understand who we are as individuals. By having a solid grasp of our identities, we have been able to build upon that foundation, allowing our relationship to flourish.
Thus, we have developed the ability to not only anticipate each other’s needs and desires but also to suggest new ideas that the other might not have considered. Remarkably, many of these suggestions have turned out to be exactly what one or the other needed at the time. None of this growth would have been possible without a solid foundational understanding of ourselves. It is this foundation that has allowed our relationship to become stronger and deeper with each passing day.
Along those lines, my relationship with Jesus Christ has similarly grown. With each passing day, I find knowledge about God that challenges me to change, and I feel comfortable standing on what He has instilled in me more willing to trust His way of doing things and less dependent on my own. Where once frustration and conflict stood, peace and stability prevail.
Clarity has a way of revealing what we are truly standing on. In relationships, it becomes obvious over time whether connection is built on convenience or on something deeper. The same is true about our relationship with Christ. It is easy to feel confident when life is cooperative, when plans work out, and when answers come quickly. But foundations are rarely tested in calm conditions. They are tested when pressure arrives.
Jesus speaks directly to this reality in today’s verses. He describes two people who hear His words. Both listen. Both build. Both experience the same storm. The difference is not knowledge, exposure, or intention. The difference is obedience. “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24) When the rain falls and the winds beat against that house, it stands not because the storm was weaker but because the foundation was stronger.
This teaching lands close to home because many of us spend years reinforcing what is visible while neglecting what is foundational. We improve habits, refine routines, and manage appearances. These are good things, but Jesus goes beyond that. He focuses on what supports us when effort is not enough and control slips away. A life built on Him is not one that avoids storms. It is one that remains standing when storms do what storms always do.
What is easy to miss in this passage is that the foolish builder is not described as reckless or rebellious. He hears the same words. He builds a house that likely looks fine from the outside. The collapse comes not from ignorance, but from choosing not to align life with what Jesus taught. Hearing without practicing creates a fragile faith. It is one that feels solid until it is asked to bear weight.
Over time, I have learned that trust in Christ grows the same way trust grows in any meaningful relationship. It is formed through lived experience. Each decision to forgive instead of retaliating. Each moment of choosing humility over pride. Each act of obedience that does not immediately make sense but later reveals wisdom. These moments quietly reinforce the foundation. They shape a faith that is less reactive, less anxious, and more steady.
Jesus does not end His sermon with this image to frighten us, but to prepare us. Storms are not a possibility. They are a promise. That is why He says, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) A foundation in Christ produces a particular kind of peace. Not the absence of difficulty, but the presence of stability. It allows us to face uncertainty without unraveling and to navigate change without losing ourselves. Over time, that stability spills into our relationships, our leadership, and our sense of identity. We become people who are not easily shaken, because we are not standing on ourselves.
Let us use forward thinking that considers not just what we believe but we are foundationally building on. Jesus’ invitation is simple and demanding all at once. Hear His words and trust them enough to live them. Then, let Him be the foundation beneath everything else. Where do you turn when plans fail or answers are unclear? What is one small, everyday choice you can make this week that would help reinforce your foundation in Christ rather than your own control? My prayer is we trust His words when the storms come and our footing feels uncertain standing firm because they rest on Him. Amen.