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I’ve always been a dreamer.
And my dreams? They ain’t little.
No, when I was young, I dreamed of being President.
Well, I don’t want that job anymore, but I am dreaming of
another profession with the power to influence: published author.
another profession with the power to influence: published author.
And ever since I was itty bitty, I’ve been preparing myself
for that. Constructing a world around myself that’s comfortable. That has
everything I need to be a successful writer.
for that. Constructing a world around myself that’s comfortable. That has
everything I need to be a successful writer.
I’ve got the knowledge (though that’s still growing!), in
the form of journalism and English degrees.
the form of journalism and English degrees.
I’ve got the tools, like craft books and a computer.
I’ve got a blog, connections with other writers, memberships
in writers’ groups, etc. etc.
in writers’ groups, etc. etc.
But I’ve realized something.
Much as I’ve attempted to build the perfect life for myself,
without God as my foundation, I will sink. Because The Lord Our Rock will
sustain us if we let Him.
without God as my foundation, I will sink. Because The Lord Our Rock will
sustain us if we let Him.
Imagine I’m building a real house. I have all the knowledge
to build this house. I’ve got all the tools, like concrete and wood and nails.
I’ve even got some help from others.
to build this house. I’ve got all the tools, like concrete and wood and nails.
I’ve even got some help from others.
But what if I have a few choices for where to build this
house? One place is low in a valley, with no trees surrounding and just
beautiful open land.
house? One place is low in a valley, with no trees surrounding and just
beautiful open land.
The other is at the top of a mountain. It’s narrow and would
mean I’d have a hard time bringing all the tools up there. In fact, I decide
the mountain is too high, too far, and too challenging to get to.
mean I’d have a hard time bringing all the tools up there. In fact, I decide
the mountain is too high, too far, and too challenging to get to.
So I build my house in the valley.
And I move there. Unpack all of my boxes and settle in. I’m
happy. And I’ve got the coolest writing nook around.
happy. And I’ve got the coolest writing nook around.
But then, I start to realize something. My new location
lacks a few things that perhaps the mountain home would have given me, things
like shelter, shade, and safety.
lacks a few things that perhaps the mountain home would have given me, things
like shelter, shade, and safety.
Shelter
I’m out in the open, exposed and vulnerable to attack by who
knows what…ferocious animals like Doubt and Temptation lurk about and charge my
stronghold, which ironically turns out to be quite weak.
knows what…ferocious animals like Doubt and Temptation lurk about and charge my
stronghold, which ironically turns out to be quite weak.
At this point, I’m a bit jealous of the mountain dwellers,
because they’ve got a fortress for a location. They’ve got the high ground.
because they’ve got a fortress for a location. They’ve got the high ground.
Shade
The hot sun beats down on my cheeks, scorching my pale skin.
That’s what I get for not taking the time to build a house where there are more
trees.
That’s what I get for not taking the time to build a house where there are more
trees.
Safety
When storms rage outside my house—the house I so proudly
built for myself—I become a bit worried about how safe we are.
built for myself—I become a bit worried about how safe we are.
And then, the unthinkable happens. We start to sink.
How is it possible I built my house on quicksand when it had
seemed so firm in the first place? All it took was the rain ravaging it for me
to see just how unstable my home is.
seemed so firm in the first place? All it took was the rain ravaging it for me
to see just how unstable my home is.
I squint up at the mountain. It’s standing strong. Unaffected
by the storm.
by the storm.
That song I learned as a kid…it applies to me.
“The wise man built his house upon the rock…”
No, not that part.
The part that follows.
The part about the fool.
“The foolish man built his house upon the sand…”
Yep, that part.
The fool is the one who builds her life based on her own
dreams instead of the ones God has for her.
dreams instead of the ones God has for her.
Your Turn: What other
dangers lurk when we don’t build our lives on The Lord Our Rock?
dangers lurk when we don’t build our lives on The Lord Our Rock?
*Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Great post, Lindsay. Fear, doubt, and unbelief come to mind.
Thanks so much for this reminder to build my dreams on those God has for me. Very true.
Unbelief…so true. How many times does God have to show himself able before we learn to trust and believe?
Can't tell you how many times I've done this. "I'm home, Lord. Thanks for the directions. See ya." Sinking. Sinking. Sinking.
"I need to be your home."
~ Wendy
We think that He got us somewhere and then that we won't need Him anymore. Nope.
Love the post today, Linds! I've built many homes, watched many of them sink. Building on the rock has saved me (literally) from rebuilding over and over.
That's true…it may be harder to build on the rock–takes more work to listen and obey–but it saves so much energy in the long run if we build where we need to the first time.
Collapse. Sinking. Collisions. Collateral damage. 🙂 Lots of bad stuff. Good post, Lindsay! It's important to recognize what is from God and what is just our flesh.
Easier said than done, right? I know it is for me!
Wow! Love this post, Lindsay!
I fought my mom, and God, on the writing thing for years. I always knew I would write, but it wasn't my dream – or so, I thought.
He put it on my heart…it took root and started to grow slowly each year that passed. Now it is my dream…His dream for me.
Thanks, Loree. Isn't it cool to see the difference in our lives when we finally surrender to what he's called us to do? I can't wait to see the fruit he brings to your tree!
Wow, I love your analogies, Lindsay! Shelter, shade and safety – God provides all and so much more. It's so cool that you always knew you wanted to be a writer. Not me. It snuck up on me 7 years ago, but I haven't looked back. Nothing compares to the privilege of being able to write about and teach God's transforming Word. Your last question provides much food for thought. Anything not based on His Rock is sinking sand. All of it. Blessings!
I totally agree with you about it being a privilege. I forget that a lot of times, especially when it's hard. But anything that's worth doing isn't easy.
How often do we do what's easiest and quickest to accomplish? Even as we build our writing careers. If we take the quickest route, we're left with a sinking dream, but when we build it up, doing what needs to be done, working through the tough obstacles, putting in our time, the dream grows stronger and stronger and we've got a structure that will stand through the test of time. Great analogy!
Yes, yes, yes to everything you've said, Gabe! God honors hard work and an obedient ear.
Another wonderful LindsAy post! When we build our own houses, we tend to fill the rooms with things like Pride, Worldly Success, Ego. When we allow God to build our houses, we can reside in rooms like Humbleness, Servant's Heart and Praise. In the writing business it's easy to become prideful when you score those contracts or bestseller lists, but God is the one who gave us those gifts in the first place. It's not on our own, but through Him.
Teehee, thanks, Lisa.
I LOVE the items you named. So true. I don't want to fill my home with Pride, Worldly Success, and Ego, but as a writer, it can be easy to forget that it's God who got me where I am. Not. Me.
Great post! If we build on our confidence…God has a tendency to let us sink.
True story: when we were looking to buy a house, we entered into one that was very cheap. It was so cute on the inside. We couldn't figure out why the seller was asking for so little. Then we stepped into the kitchen. I felt the floor sink a little. Our realtor went outside and looked at the house's foundation…and there wasn't one!
The people built this house on dirt. That's it! No solid foundation at all. We got out of there in a hurry.
Good lesson for us all!
Oh wow! So glad you figured that out before making an offer on that house. And yes, too often I've built my house on the shifting sands of this world instead of on the Eternal Rock who is never shaken.
Great picture on the rock! You are so right. We can check off all the things we are supposed to do to build our dream, but it will all be fruitless if we forget about our partnership with God. And isn't He the best partner to have in this journey?
I love how you call it a partnership with God. He IS the best partner to have. I never want to leave him out of any important decisions.
Worry! It's this slippery sandy slope…and I hate it. But when God is my rock, I won't be stuck in the quicksand of worry.
This is an awesome post, as always, Linds!
I was thinking about confidence the other day. I tend to be confident…but it's never a full-fledged, at-peace confidence unless it's rooted in Christ. If I've built my confidence in me and my own efforts, it's not going to last that long or get me very far…but confidence built on Christ is the solid kind.
I've said it before and I'll say it again…I totally get you! I tend to be a worrier too. There are so many times I've worried about something and wasted precious time I could have spent building for eternity. Because God resolved my issue in His time, and did a much better job at it than I ever could.
Great post!
Up here, and anywhere cold, the foundation has to be deep and solid. "Frost heaves" are when the ground freezes and warps when it thaws and cools. Even roads can be affected by a frost heave. So houses have to be extremely well built,or poof!
I honestly can't imagine going through all that life hurls at me without Jesus.I'd go nuts.
I've never heard of frost heaves before (probably because I live in Phoenix, duh)! That's kind of scary. But I like the application here. Building our lives on the Lord Our Rock IS deep and solid.