How Building a Strong Foundation Can Help You Overcome Life’s Challenges
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” Luke 14:28–30
Have you ever wondered why buildings collapse? One major reason is a weak foundation. In fact, the taller the building, the deeper and more solid the foundation should be. This requires meticulous planning, expertise, and professionalism in its display. “By wisdom, a house is built, and by understanding, it is established.” Proverbs 24:3
Jesus illustrated this point with two men who each decided to build a house. The first man sat down and devised a concrete plan, considering a solid foundation, to build a house that could withstand strong winds and heavy rainfall. The other man never took the time to plan; he just went out, found a place, and built his house without considering a solid foundation. The outcome of such a building is obvious. This is a clear representation of what happens in our world today. Many of us want to build great things like marriage, career, ministry, family, business, etc. without considering the foundation for which those things can stand even in the face of storms, challenges, and problems that might come. God never promised a life without trouble, but He gave us a promise of being an overcomer in such instances if we truly put our trust in Him. “In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b
God expects His children to fully depend on His sovereignty and mighty power to make things happen, but we also have our part to play. Our part is to believe and follow according to His plans for us. “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ?” 1 Cor 3:11. This is the foundation that’s required as you journey through life. Without a solid foundation of total trust in the Lord Jesus, you might end up like Peter, whom Jesus called to meet him by walking on water, but began to sink immediately after his eyes were off Jesus. A building is only as strong as the foundation it is built on. If your foundation is on the solid rock of Jesus, you can rest assured of a foundation that can never be shaken or destroyed.
Sometimes, when you look at your life, it may seem God has no hand in it because there is a part that wildfires have ravaged, the part that the paint has washed off, a part that seems to remain at the low level and not moving forward, or even a part that storms are threatening and you have no clue on how to rebuild or even stand. The word of the Lord says in 1 Cor 3:9b that “you are God’s building”, a bigger project in His hands for that matter. He has counted the costs; the washed-off paints, the wildfire disaster, the stilted base level, the storms or floods that threaten, and He has paid the price to finish the building. I want to remind you that He has more than enough resources to complete you well in Him. You only have to ensure the foundation is intact. This is when you can boast of the solid structure God is building, which is you. A building that’s devoid of failing or collapse but stands strong irrespective of any external disaster that may come. You can build a marriage, business, career, ministry, or family that’s successful such that others will want to emulate. It’s possible!
