The Foundation of Rock Bottom

“…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.”

Matthew 7:25

The second half of 2019 was a powerful season in my life.  In the midst, all I could see was loss and hopelessness.  I was severely ill with a high-risk pregnancy that left me unable to work.  My husband shortly was laid off after I had lost my own job. We had to give up our cozy little rental to move into a single room at my mother-in-law’s house.  We were still blessed to have a roof over our head, but with no way to pay our bills or to buy necessities with a baby on the way, my heart was in despair. I admit, I did let that season of life break me, but maybe that season was exactly meant to break me.  Through that season, I had to learn about priorities.  I had to truly learn about trust in God and His provision.  I learned how to be a cheerful and faithful giver despite our financial circumstance. I could see how God was rebuilding and redirecting us in this season, but looking back now, I see God giving us an opportunity to rebuild our home on the foundation of rock bottom.

Rock bottom is a term that is mostly used to indicate that there is no possibility of falling lower than we already are.  It is often a term to convey that things are horrible and cannot possibly get any worse.  How could they? We are left lying on the cold, hard ground, and there seems to be nothing around to grasp.  What if instead of a barren wasteland, rock bottom is meant to be a cleared foundation to rebuild and grow in Christ?

I have to admit there were points on rock bottom that I was wanting to completely give up.  I am so glad that this anchor of Hope within me, His Holy Spirit that guides me kept pushing me to do what I know to do; to cling to His Word, to cling to prayer, and to cling to His promises.

My husband was blessed with a fulfilling job that provides for our family.  As I rock my healthy, three-month old baby boy in my arms in our newly purchased house, there is no doubt in my mind that God was preparing us for this season by breaking us down to rock bottom.

With all of the expectation, dreams, and goals that we had in place, there was nowhere for God to do what He wanted to do in our lives.  We would pray for His will, but we were not always willing to open our eyes past what we had built ourselves.  I thank God for bringing us to rock bottom so He could rebuild us on His solid foundation.