Stability

We all want stability in our lives. Most of us think of stability in a way that our lives will never experience trouble or turmoil. We think that our lives, and the lives of friends and family around us, are stable if a storm never comes and there is never a bad circumstance to face. We spend our lives attempting to avoid "bad things" and circumstances from happening. However, we have never been promised that this would be the case. As a matter of fact we have been told just the opposite. Jesus told us that "in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
So where does stability come from if it does not come from avoiding negative happenings in our lives? I believe it comes from the way in which we process those happenings and if we are truly living out the way of Jesus.

"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock."
"But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards." Matthew 7:24-27

Jesus words that he has spoken to us are not just things that we add to our life, they do not just improve our already good life. Jesus is telling us here that his words, God's way of living, is the foundation we build our lives on. I love the phrase here "work these words into your life." We are actually expected to live the words, put them into action. If we just read them and tell ourselves that we know them, but never really "know" them and act them out, our lives will fall apart when negative circumstances come. You see, Jesus is telling us that stability is not about avoiding storms, but stability is really about the things we are applying in our lives when they do come. If we are using Jesus to just better ourselves, an add on to our already good life, we are using Jesus for our own gain. Our life is built on sand and when storms come we collapse into depression, anger, and sadness because we truly do not know. If we are truly living the way of Jesus, we are making application into our lives of God's words - loving others, giving your life away, being humble, forgiving, seeing good, etc. - our lives are built on rock and when storms come we are not moved. We are stable in "knowing" of God because our life is God's life. We begin to accept storms as a reality of life and in this new belief we find stability. We never forget whose we are, where we came from, and negative circumstances have not bearing on our real life of eternity.

Remember this today. Take time to apply Jesus' words in your life. Love, forgive, see beauty, practice kindness, anchor your thoughts in positive things, and believe the best. When a storm comes it is not scary at all.

Namaste'