What is one of the main things you have to check when you buy a new home?

The foundation.

What do you need before you learn something new?

A foundation.

I teach reading to dyslexic learners daily and the basis that is missing for every single kiddo I begin working with is the foundation that we build reading skills on.

We cannot build a strong home, life, or learn something new without a strong foundation. Everything will eventually crumble. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but one day it will. Because I promise you this…storms will come.

We are warned of this in the Bible as well:  

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV

Last week I shared about my journey to knowing Jesus and today I’m going to tell you why that alone was not enough to sustain me when life fell apart. (Stop and read my journey to faith here and come back to finish!)

I came to know Jesus as my Savior at 17, and I went to a wonderful Christian college where I was surrounded by Christians and Biblical teaching. I went on amazing mission trips and even led youth camps. I was filling up with God and His word. However, once I left the Christian bubble and was thrown into the “real” world as a 22-year-old, I didn’t pursue my relationship with the One who would sustain me.

Just like any relationship, if you don’t work on it, it will fall away. Hear me on this, God was still there all along, I am the one who drifted away. I became busy trying to learn how to be a good teacher. I took on a new identity of “teacher”. I put my all into it and my job and since I was still single, I searched for Christian singles groups, but they were hard to find. I spent more time around people who were not directing me to Jesus than those who were. I spent almost no time (other than a quick 2-minute devotional read) with Jesus each day.

Honestly, I didn’t really know how to “be” with Jesus, and I let the world try to fill me instead.

That decade after college, I went to church, but I didn’t spend time building upon the foundation of my faith. That foundation was started when I chose to follow Jesus, and I believe nothing can take away our salvation once we have chosen to truly follow Him. However, we must “work out our salvation” (Phil. 2:12), meaning we must build that relationship and live for Jesus. It’s not just about “fire” insurance to stay out of hell, it’s about truly knowing God and making Him known.

I wasn’t doing that…I barely had my little toe resting on Jesus as my rock.

Fast forward to 2007 when I started to get very sick. No one could figure out what was wrong, and over the next 3 years my life deteriorated before my eyes. I weighed close to 100 pounds at 5′ 4″ (too thin), I was depressed, anxious and having flashbacks to trauma I endured. I tried with all my human strength to keep working, but after a CPTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder) diagnosis, I ended up unable to work and lost my job.

At the same time I lost my family since I told the truth of what I had been through.

I lost touch with all my coworkers since I was not with them daily.

I slowly lost all friends who were busy raising kids and I was a mess.

I lost my dear grandpa whom I loved.

I lost my cat whom I loved way more than I should have for an animal.

I lost it all, and I couldn’t see a light at at the end of the dark tunnel…I had no hope because my hope was in this world instead of Jesus. I had kept my identity and “strength” in things that don’t last.

All was dark. My entire life crumbled because I had not built a foundation that would last. I had not invested time in the relationship with Jesus that would sustain me. Instead of pursuing that more at that moment I got angry and turned from God. I wanted nothing to do with a God that allowed all this evil to happen and took everything from me.

I was not seeing through a spiritual lens of God since I had not grown that relationship. He was still right there, but I was running far away.

That lack of a true, solid foundation led me to try to end my life. God said no and kept me alive much to my disappointment at the time.

It would take years for me to truly begin to seek God and a relationship with Him that helps me in all things.

It’s kind of ironic that the One who never left it the last One I turned to. I tried to get others to stay with me in life when the only One I really needed was still there patiently waiting.

Now, yes, we need community and people, but no human on this earth can give you your identity, strength, and all you need as God can.

Now, I work on building my relationship with God, but I’ll be honest there are days I fail to spend a good amount of time with Him. Just as in any relationship as humans we will fail.

I’m thankful He’s patient with me and I’m grateful I am learning to turn to Him when my anxiety spikes, when I am fearful of the future, when I need guidance, and for anything in between. Walking with Him is a second-by-second relationship. Whispered prayers throughout the day are more of a common place and intentional time in His word and drawing near Him in worship and communion. Relationship.

I’m still wobbly in my relationship with Him. I just not the best at relationships anyway, but I am thankful He is helping me build a stronger foundation that withstands the storms of this life.

I love the sweatshirts that say, “Stronger than the storm.” I want one because it’s true, but I’d add to it. Jesus is stronger than the storm.

Have you built a solid foundation of your faith? I promise you life will fall apart at some point and you’ll need a lifeboat, and you won’t find it in any person, thing, or place on this earth.

Where will you turn and where will you find your hope and strength?

Let’s turn to the One who can fill us today and everyday.

Father God,
Fill me with more of You. Guide this day. I consecrate it all to You and ask You to guide and provide. Continue to draw me near to You. Help me be intentional about my relationship with You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

© 2025 Susan M. Clabaugh with Encouragement in Daily Living LLC

Spend some time in worship today and praise Jesus. He is our firm foundation, the rock on which we stand.