A Sure Foundation: Digging In the Dirt

Isaiah 33:6 “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.” Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Isaiah 28:16 “So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.” Laying a foundation is vital to structural integrity, literally as well as spiritually, and digging is an essential process of building faith. Have you ever played – or watched a child play – in a ball pit? Reaching the bottom of the pit seems impossible. The more you displace those colorful, plastic balls, the faster they come avalanching back to reclaim their position. As humans, when we work to dig out our own messes with our own strength, we’re playing in our own ball pit. We seek to rearrange our sin, our issues, our fears, our anxiety, our humanly… well, dirt, and yet, we can’t make progress. Not alone. Have you ever watched precious, chubby babies try to walk for the first time? It’s hilarious. Their feet are disproportionately small for their thigh rolls, and their steps are uncertain and nearly drunken. More often than not their string of steps end up with a face plant and a goose egg. They have a shaky foundation. Foundations aren’t glamorous. Southern Living rarely highlights the beauty and ornate artisanship of a home’s foundation. In order to lay a foundation, builders must dig. Even in work as delicate as gardening, a seed cannot be planted or thrive without the gardener digging out ground to nestle the seed inside, planting its foundation. If we invite Jesus to aid and oversee the dirty work, real progress can be made to clear out our junk. Twice in Isaiah, God is described as being a cornerstone and a sure foundation. “A tested stone, a precious cornerstone,” and “a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge.” The craftsmanship and intricate design work that can take place when there is no doubt in the solidity of a strong foundation is endless, and the Lord delights in creating and designing and adorning His children with the hand of His work. Let’s pray that we not fear the dirt and that we not shy away from the digging process but that we allow the Lord to do the work and lay a foundation and string of steps that are strong, sure and secure.