October 28, 2023
Dear Friend,
I want to share something about myself with you. I grew up in a strong Christian home; my dad was a missionary and a pastor (double pressure), and I unwaveringly placed my faith in Jesus since age seven. What a great foundation, right?
It took a terrible storm to show me how weak my foundation was, and I am so grateful for that knowledge.
Here’s what I learned: God is my solid and immovable foundation because I am not. This is the mercy I need.
“Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.” – Matthew 7:23-25
The House:
Building materials have weaknesses and strengths. Builders consider these weaknesses depending on the building site. The building needs to withstand any changes in its environment. The materials must be treated to counteract how they naturally respond to these changes.
- Iron rusts in the salty air.
- Moisture causes wood to warp or attract termites.
- Concrete expands in heat and contracts cold.
- Roofs are angled differently for rain and snow.
Over time, architects and engineers have developed building codes for a strong house in a shifting environment.
The Foundation:
The one thing that shouldn’t shift is the foundation. It must be solid and immovable always. Tall buildings are designed to flex and sway in high winds or earthquakes because they are anchored deep underground.
Just like trees.
Just like me.
“He is like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever he does prospers.” – Psalm 1:3
My Rock
God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Finisher of the Universe. He is the Architect, Foundation, and Cornerstone. Because He is building something eternal, in my weakness, He must be strong.
Trials and temptations are meant to strengthen our faith in God’s faithful strength. If we build on our faithfulness, we will have no foundation at all. We will live in fear of failing and falling.
In place of rigid fear and control, God desires mercy. Mercy is the grace in God’s grace-full design.
Don’t believe me? Our bodies are living proof.
Wisdom in Real Life:
God knew what we would need before He created us. He designed each involuntary breath, heartbeat, and cell process to take in a mixture of good and evil and expel the evil.
The Respiratory System:
Inhale – mixed air enters the lungs. Oxygen is absorbed.
Exhale – carbon dioxide is expelled through the lungs.
The Cardiovascular System:
Heartbeat 1 – Blood transports oxygen from the lungs to the cells.
Heartbeat 2 – Blood transports carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs.
Cell Respiration System:
One breath and heartbeat in – oxygen comes to the cell and reacts with sugar to produce energy for cell division and function.
One breath and heartbeat out – carbon dioxide from the energy production process is expelled from cells into the blood and back out through the lungs.
From the Beginning
These living systems reveal God’s merciful design, from the beginning. We can trust that though we may fail and fall, He remains faithful still.
“If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” – 2 Timothy 2:13
It is not by our might or our power but by the Spirit that connects us to God. He is in control and that is our strength!
“But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the Spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through His Spirit that dwells in you.” – Romans 8:9-11
So, get back up. Stand firm in knowing that God is merciful, faithful and strong to keep every promise to you.
I am standing with you in need of that same mercy.
Believing Him,
Monisha.
