As 2020 winds down and a new year is just a few days away, I like to reflect on the past year, the good and the bad and begin to focus on the new year ahead. I try to be intentional about how I enter a new year, whether it is by picking a word to challenge myself with or specific prayers and goals for the new year. While we can all agree there are many things we would like to leave in 2020, I do believe it is important to take the challenges we have faced, the lessons we have learned and bring them into the new year.
One thing I have been reflecting on as I look back on this past year and will focus on the coming year is my foundation. A few questions I have been reflecting on are:
- What have I built my foundation on?
- Am I taking an honest assessment of my foundation when problems arise?
- Has it been stable?
- Can it withhold storms?
When we begin to build something, whether it’s a business, a goal, a relationship, we need a strong foundation. It is the core of what holds everything up and together. When you think about a home being built, you can’t really see the foundation, its not the prettiest part of the house, and to be honest you may not think about it often, if ever. But, the foundation is the most important part of the house. Any cracks or issues in the foundation, are not to be to ignored because if left alone, they could lead to a number of potential issues in the house.
Just as the foundation is crucial in homebuilding, it is just as critical in our business and personal life. Our foundation is what we build our life upon, what we build our business upon and what we build our relationships on. It cannot be done cheaply or quickly, or else it won’t last. Jesus speaks to this in Luke 6 when he gives the parable of the two builders.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.
And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.
When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49
When you assess your business and/or your personal life, have you taken the time to build it on a strong foundation? Are you confident that it can withstand the next storm that comes your way? As you look toward next year, take assessment of the foundation you have laid and determine whether there are ways to strengthen it or change it from sand to rock, so that way it is firm, strong and will last. When unexpected things are thrown my way, or life gets difficult and feels unsteady, I can keep going with confidence that my foundation is strong in Christ and if I keep my feet planted firmly in faith, then I can withstand whatever comes my way. I believe the old hymn says it best:
“On Christ the solid rock I stand
all other ground is sinking sand.”
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