For it is God who is at work within you,

giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose.

Philippians 2:13 (JBPhillips)

“Two a day! Wow! Seven AM and seven PM. I wring the sweat out of my shirt at nine in the morning! And it’s still muggy at seven PM. I’ll be wet from my shorts out! But I like my coach. He’s good. All the guys respect him and we know that he wants us to be our very best and – above all – win. Our first game is just a few weeks away and it’s going to be a tough one. He knows our opponent inside-out and he knows what we need. I appreciate his commitment to me – to the team. We want to win as badly as he wants us to win.”

I’m sure you remember the story of the two houses that Matthew tells us in his gospel, 7:24-28. The two houses were structured differently in one important way: One was built on the sand the other was built on the rock. A tsunami hit and both houses were right in the middle of the crashing waves and the tornado-like winds. (Okay. It doesn’t say a tsunami – but it could have been – no it couldn’t have been because the houses were not by the ocean. Oh, well. Let’s make it a very scary storm!) When the storm hit, the house built on the sand came tumbling down but the house built on the rock stood firm. [1] Oh, you could no doubt tell that it had been in a storm, but it was still standing when the storm abated.

We know that the “Rock” is Jesus. He is our firm foundation. The storms come, but our Foundation is unmovable. Can you see that? You are in the midst of a severe storm – life threatening perhaps – but you are standing on this huge Rock – protected, unshakable! You see the swirling waves and gusting winds, but you stand firm! Oh, you may have to hang on like crazy to that piece of the Rock next to you, and you will probably get soaking wet, and be scared, and everyone can tell you’ve been in a storm – but you will stand because of your Foundation!

I’ve used this scripture many times, but once more is okay. I have told you these things that in Me (the Rock) you may have perfect peace and confidence (you know you are safe). In the world you have tribulation, trials, disasters and frustration (His promise). But be of good cheer, take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted (His instructions). For I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm, have conquered it for you (His provision) (John 16:33 Amplified Bible).

We are encouraged by some teachers to “claim” our prosperity, our healing, our freedom from any sort of problems. God does not give us that blanket promise. His promise is this: I will be with you in the storms. We meet the same turbulence in the world that the lost man will meet. But we are to “show that lost man the way to stand firm in that turbulence”. We are to tell that person about our Rock. We are to glorify God!

Have you ever considered that our “Coach” is preparing us for a really “tough” battle He knows is coming? We are in the world and subject to everything the world can throw at us, but God has forewarned us and prepared us and tells us: I have overcome the world. I have robbed it of power to harm I have conquered it for you.

Let me tell you about Dane, a friend. Dane had been an “in name only” Christian for years but had recently become a Believer. He grew rapidly in his knowledge of the Scriptures and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone was amazed. He not only “talked” the game – he “walked” the game! He was an inspiration to all of us. Then, he opened his new business. Beautiful building. Planned to a “T” to suit his needs. Then one night his beautiful new office was broken into and destruction was everywhere.

“Why did this happen to me? I’ve been growing closer to the Lord and understanding His purpose for us. I thought I had given everything to Him. What’s wrong here? I can’t understand.” I asked him, “How would you have handled this disaster six or eight months ago?” Silence. “I wouldn’t have been able to handle it.”

God knew and He began His “two-a-day” plans for Dane early on. He knows what tomorrow holds for every person. He had been preparing this man for the destruction of his store for more than a year – with special emphasis in the last six months. How good God is!

We think God is impotent because He doesn’t do quickly what we think best. No. God is not impotent – He is omniscient. He knows! God is loving and kind. God watches over each of His children carefully. I believe He prepares us for the “unexpecteds” in our lives. Those things that we wouldn’t have been able to handle six or eight months ago.

He does not promise “no storms”. He promises His presence with us in the storms and with Him as our foundation, “the rains may come down and the floods may come up, but the house on the Rock will stand.” We’ve been in “two-a-day” for a long time!

[1] We used to sing about it as children: The wise man built his house upon the rock (3x), and the rain came tumbling down. The rain came down and the flood came up (3x), but the house on the rock stood fast. Second verse: The foolish man built his house upon the sand (3x), repeat above, and the house came tumbling down! Fun memories.