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Written by Beliza Kocev, Brazil Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Mt 7:25 NIV)
I first went to church when I was a teenager, and I usually say that it was late, to the point that my mind had already been damaged on some level, but early enough that there wasn’t time for me to make some decisions that would have severe consequences for the rest of my life.
Once I started to learn more about the Word of God, I noticed that many things that I had learned or that I had always seen as normal didn’t align with God’s will.
I wanted to do everything right, and for a while, I thought that if I did everything right, nothing bad would happen. After all, I believed that I had been doing everything right… But I came across the first obstacle: the realization that I can’t do everything right. I would have loved to, and I tried, but I failed. I am thankful to God for His grace because He did not give up on me— because His mercies are new every morning (La 3:22-23).
This was my understanding of building a house on the rock: practice what Jesus taught in order to have a house so strong, so firmly established, that storms would not even dare to come close to such a construction. The winds would blow by, the rain would change directions to avoid it, and no weather would reach it.
Well, as time went by, I realized that, yes, I reaped the benefits of good decisions, but the challenges would continue coming, and many times I questioned why those things were happening to me. After all, I was trying to build a strong house! The rain didn’t change directions upon seeing my house. On the contrary, it seemed like the rain called the lightning and thunder to come along with it. I couldn’t understand and I thought that my house wasn’t strong enough.
Building your house on the Rock requires a lot more effort than on the sand and involves denying oneself (Lk 9:23-26). It seemed like I wasn’t trying hard enough, but at the same time, it was too much effort for it not to have worked.
It was only very recently, after years of singing the song that narrates this parable for children, that my brain processed both the house of the wise and the foolish as they each went through tribulations. The rain, the wind, and the floods reached both! It is not because the wise man perfectly obeyed the Lord that he would not go through difficult times.
How did I not realize this? Jesus Himself told us that we would go through difficult moments in life (Jn 16:33). The difference is that, in the case of the wise man who put the Word of God into practice, his house withstood the tribulations.
Jesus explained very clearly that all who practice the Word of God will be able to withstand the tribulations and challenges of life.
I later realized that after the rains, winds, and floods of difficulties, tribulations, and suffering, my house was still standing… not because I was good, or a super civil engineer, or I myself was strong. But because even though my effort was only enough to build an unstable and precarious shack, the Lord is the eternal Rock (Is 26:4).
After a storm, it might take a while before you are able to “get the house in order.” Part of the roof might have fallen off and the wind may have torn down some things. It might take a while before everything that was drenched by the rains has time to dry. But your house will still be standing. You will still be standing!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).
What areas of your life are being rained on and wind-beaten but are still standing?
Written by Brenda Brizendine, Assistant Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Php 4:8-9 NIV)
The Bible instructs us to think about good things—things that build us up. Why? Because our thoughts affect our attitudes, our moods, our perception of ourselves, and even our relationships. Our thoughts are tied to our joy, our happiness, and, in general, the quality of life we live.
A few months ago, I started studying the book Who Has the Last Word? written by Michelle J. Goff, with the women in the congregation I attend. This book reminds us that we can use the truth of God's Word to cut through the lies that Satan or we ourselves have placed in our minds or hearts. In it, Michelle teaches us that by remembering the truth of God's Word, memorizing it, and internalizing it in our hearts and minds, we begin a transformation process that allows us to realize the abundant life we can have in Jesus, a life that Satan desires to steal from us.
Last year, as part of the commitment I made to Christ, I chose Psalm 46:10 to study, understand, and live by. Wow, God knew that I would need to be “still” to face all the situations that arose in my life and family! But He knew better than I did that, beyond being still, I needed to remember that He is still God and the Lord over every circumstance.
I enter 2025 with unanswered questions, unresolved situations, and transitions to face, but I am ready to continue practicing living in the truth that God has left in His Word. I will stumble and doubt, definitely, but by returning to His Word, evaluating my thoughts, and deliberately choosing to think on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,” I will be able to practice being a wise woman.
Romans 12:2 says: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” The next time you notice you’re thinking negative thoughts, choose to replace those thoughts with the truth of God's Word. For example, if you think about giving up, look for the truth in the Word and decide to meditate on verses like Deuteronomy 31:6, Galatians 6:9, and Philippians 4:13. Or when the enemy tries to convince you that you don’t deserve love, remind him of what God says about you in Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1:5, or Romans 8:38-39.
Learning to control your mind can be like trying to tame a wild animal. But the Lord says: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you” (Ps 32:8). Keep practicing: rely on God and keep asking Him for help to know His truth. You will begin to see changes—changes that will affect other areas of your life, and “the God of peace will be with you.”
Now, with what you’ve learned:
- Share a truth from God’s Word in which you want to grow or bloom (put it into practice).
- Identify a lie you wish to remove with the truth from God’s Word.
- Identify a sister who can be like iron sharpening iron in your life and can remind you of the truth you chose in point 1.
