Storm Proof

September 20, 2018

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”  Matthew 7:24-27 NLT

What helps someone bounce back after physical, emotional, or spiritual trauma?

Psychologist Martin Seligman suggests four main factors:

  • Emotional fitness: having the ability to amplify positive emotions like peace, gratitude, hope, or love while managing bitterness, sadness, or anger.
  • Family fitness: having strong relationships by building trust and extending forgiveness.
  • Social fitness: having good friendships and work relations by developing empathy and emotional intelligence.
  • Spiritual fitness: having a sense of purpose by serving something greater than ourselves.

The research that bears this out is just now catching up with the teaching of Jesus in Matthew’s record of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-6). Jesus said the ones who don’t collapse when the storms come are strong emotionally because they make the choice to live in blessing, whether rejoicing or mourning. They make counter-cultural choices when confronted with anger and worry. They are strengthened relationally by living out faithfulness, honesty, grace, and forgiveness. They are made strong socially by loving others as God has loved us. They are made strong spiritually by serving His mission to be salt and light to our world (Matthew 5:13-16).

Life is hard. Truly. Storms come—loss, betrayal, illness, tragedy, even persecution. But Jesus does more than show us how to get to heaven when we die; He teaches us to live a resilient life now through His power. When we follow His teachings, and connect closely, we will have a foundation that the fiercest winds cannot destroy.

  • In which area of life are you the least fit?
  • Talk to God about it. Google what Jesus has said in those areas, and commit to follow the teachings of Jesus.