“Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day . . .” – that’s what was playing in my head as I stared out the window at the dreary, rainy day. I was on a weekend retreat at a beautiful place by the lake, but stuck inside due to the weather. As I looked thru the window at the lake in the rain, I noticed a lone duck peacefully swimming far from the shore. He was out in the rain, in the wind, and in the cold. Totally unfazed by the churning waves and the elements around him. I was fascinated and honestly, a little jealous. I want to be like that duck, unfazed by my circumstances.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27 TPT:
“Everyone who hears my teaching and applies it to his life can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation. When the rains fell and the flood came, with fierce winds beating upon his house, it stood firm because of its strong foundation. But everyone who hears my teaching and does not apply it to his life can be compared to a foolish man who built his house on sand. When it rained and rained and the flood came, with wind and waves beating upon his house, it collapsed and was swept away.”’
My friends, it WILL rain, the floods WILL come, and the waves and the wind WILL beat upon your house. For me, those storms have come lately in the form of health problems for my parents, struggles for my son at college, worries for my daughter who is walking her own path, waiting on financial provision while the bills continue to come. Yet despite what my eyes see, despite the storms raging around me, Jesus said I will not be swept away if I have applied His teaching to my life, and built my house on the strong and unshakeable foundation of Him.
As I studied that duck on the water, I could see that he was not hunkered down, shivering in the cold or just trying to ‘grin and bear it’. He was totally unfazed by what was going on around him. He would have looked the same if the skies were blue and the breeze was gentle and warm. We too, can be content no matter our circumstances and the Apostle Paul gives us the secret in Philippians 4:11-13 NLT:
“ . . . for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Jesus not only is our source of strength, but our source of peace in the storm.
“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!” John 14:27 TPT
My friends, we have to do more than know God’s Word, it has to be applied to our lives to become that “unshakeable foundation”.
So when my mind is troubled over the health of my parents, I know God says: “I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4 NLT
When my son is struggling at school, I know that God says: “All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.” Isaiah 54:13 NIV
When I get rattled by what I see in my daughter’s life, I know God promises: “I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak.” Ezekiel 34:16 NLT
When that bill shows up in the mail, I can have peace because God promises to: “ . . . meet all [my] needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NIV
God’s Word applied to my life becomes my strength, my peace, and my strong foundation. So that I will not be shaken but stand firm, totally unfazed by my circumstances!
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.” Psalm 62:5-7 NIV
Written by Kim Hughes
