TODAY’S INSPIRATION: UNSHAKABLE!

My brother transitioned this past week and although I am missing him, I am thankful that he is no longer in pain and is finally at peace. His love for the Word of God, prayer, and his faith kept him steadfast most of his life. His journey was not easy, especially the last four years as he battled cancer. We talked mostly every day and he would always say “It is already alright!” He knew the battle was not his but the Lords. He also knew death was not the end for those in Christ but the beginning of everlasting life. His faith was unshakable!  

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;” (2 Corinthians 4:8)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:20-2)1

The only way to remain unshakable is by building a strong foundation in Christ which leads to unwavering faith. As we live our life based on the Word of God, the teachings of Yeshua, our Jesus Christ and His love, our foundation becomes solid and our faith becomes unshakable. Faith is not about understanding it all or having all the answers. Faith is about believing in the One who does understand it all and Who does know all the answers. Our faith helps us persevere through struggles and remain hopeful in challenging situations. A strong foundation provides strength, stability, resilience, and a powerful faith against life’s challenges and trials.  

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

“Therefore, 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)

“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” (Psalm 147:5)

Jesus Christ frequently illustrated His teachings with parables. Jesus described two men who each built a house (Matthew 7:24-27). Jesus said one man was wise and the other was foolish. The man who made the better decision about where to build was a wise builder because he chose the rock as his foundation. I’m sure it was a challenge to build on rocky ground. It probably took some time, patience, and hard work. But the wise man believed it would be worth the effort. On the other hand, the foolish builder didn’t consider the foundation to be important. He may have thought it would take too long and building on the sandy soil would be easier. When a storm came, the house built into the rock survived the downpour, but the house on the sand was destroyed. Jesus stated, “And great was its fall.” Jesus was telling us that the foundation matters and that we have a choice to live wisely or foolishly. The strength of our faith depends on where we lay our foundation. A strong foundation ensures faith can withstand the challenges of life while a weak one can lead to doubt and destruction!

“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” (Luke 6:47-49) NLT

How do we become unshakable in a world that’s shaking and getting darker by the day? How do we attain peace in the mist of our suffering? We make sure our foundation is strong. Jesus does not promise us no suffering in this life, but He promises that He is with us in the mist of our trials and the storms of life. Through Him, the Holy Spirit who lives within us we can attain peace through the storm and still stand firm in faith and hope. The world may be sinking, but we won’t sink with it when we are standing on the solid foundation that Jesus offers for our lives, our loved ones, and our future.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (Psalm 18:2)

It is important to build our spiritual foundation by having a relationship with Jesus. Jesus said that if we obey His Word and follow Him, we will be like the wise builder. His teachings are sound principles about how to live fruitfully. Hear them, read them, live them! This is how we maintain a strong foundation. Then we can endure the storms and the darkness of this world, not worrying about what the future holds, because we know Who holds the future! My prayer for you as well as for myself is that like my brother, we remain unshakable in the storms of life.  

Love and Blessings…

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)