A Firm Foundation?

On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene dumped a monumental quantity of water on the Appalachian Mountains. In a few hours, homes were washed away, decades old trees were uprooted like saplings, and the landscape of the region was transformed. One of the most disturbing images for me was the Pigeon River roaring under Interstate 40 near the North Carolina – Tennessee border, undercutting the foundation of the roadway.

While it is not unusual for Interstate 40 to be closed forcing inconvenient detours

Detours are a way of life on Interstate 40. But this time, it’s different.

and lots of grumbling among truckers and tourists alike, it’s different this time. Most often, the dangers have come from above in the form of massive rocks and boulders raining down on the highway below because of the geologic structure of the mountain pass. 

But an interstate highway needs a firm foundation. 

Unstable. Not a firm foundation. 

The highway winds through the Smoky Mountains, following the twists and turns of the Pigeon River as it flows into Tennessee. During Helen, the river crested 30 feet above its banks. The swollen tributary surged upward and outward and washed away the dirt and rock that had supported the road since its construction, sending a large section of the road tumbling into the depths below. 

Storms reveal the flaws in foundations that have remained hidden. When stressors are applied, many foundations fail the test. Ideas which seemed stable and secure in the engineering laboratory can be proven wildly wrong in the aftermath of a tornado or hurricane.

Geologists and engineers are struggling to devise a long-term solution, but one thing is certain. A road needs a firm foundation.  

Faith that doesn’t waiver

Since the storm hit, I have heard many people talk of faith, trust, doubt and a myriad of other emotions that surface when everything that seemed stable has suddenly been taken away. I have admired the grit and determination of those who watched their family swept away in raging waters who cast grief filled eyes on piles of rubble that were once homes, farms, and businesses and declare steadfast faith in God. They attest to a firm foundation in the midst of indescribable sorrow. 

 There will be those who turn their backs on God with the same resolute resignation with which they walked away from the rubble. They will declare that a God who allowed something as devastating as Hurricane Helene either is not good, or is not God. Their faith can’t see beyond the fresh grave or the ruined life. 

Storms reveal what is inside

 or in the case of Interstate 40, what is underneath. And the deep faith that can trust God even in the aftermath of a storm like Helene results from knowing God, not just knowing about God. A believer with a firm foundation may be shaken in the storm. But in the end, the foundation will hold. 

A firm foundation? 

When Jesus ate His final meal with his disciples, He responded to Peter’s confident declaration that he  would follow Him to the death no matter what the others at the table did by telling Peter “Satan has desired to sift you.” I want that verse to read “Satan has asked to sift you, but I refused to give him permission to touch you.” But instead, He says, “But I have prayed for you. When you return, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus knew that Peter had a good foundation. He was the one who named him Peter, or “Rocky” if you will. But he also knew how often Peter’s mouth got ahead of his brain. Jesus understood what Peter would face as the leader of the early church. And Peter had to understand that if he relied on himself, he would fail.  

Jesus allowed Satan to shake Peter to his very foundation,

not to destroy him, but so Peter would put his faith in God, not his own abilities. When Jesus met with Peter after the resurrection, Peter was a changed man, no longer bragging about his own faithfulness. When Jesus asked him “Do you love me?” his response was thoughtful, no arrogant or boastful. “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.”

He had been sifted and it changed him.  It was a painful lesson. But Peter would face severe challenges in the days ahead, and he would face them with resolve. He knew his strength would fail. But faith in Jesus would allow him to stand strong.

My foundation test

I related the story of my own sifting experience in a previous post. My foundation was not firm because I had allowed faulty beliefs to alter my view of God.  But God didn’t allow my sifting because He was capricious and wanted to see me squirm. He allowed it so I would have a firm foundation that will hold when other storms hit.

Testing encourages others

Haywood County, my home, responded well both before and after the emergency.  Our emergency services issued evacuation orders as soon as the weather service announced the threat.  And businesses in flood prone areas moved much of their inventory to higher ground. In fact, we were among the first counties to restore services and to begin assessing and cleaning up the damage.

We had a sort of dress rehearsal in 2022 when Tropical Storm Fred devastated many in the area. This experience, though painful for many, allowed us to move quickly to respond both to our own crisis and that of nearby counties. And as our mayor pointed out, it positions us to help our neighbors. 

A firm foundation near the river’s edge

Since the storm, I spoke to the owner of our farm supply store. It’s in an older building that has faced floods before. When they received warning that flooding was probable, they loaded their inventory into trucks and took it to safety. There’s a lot of damage, but he is confident that they will be able to come back to that location. The original builders knew they were building near the river.  They designed a building that could withstand a lot of punishment.

If a builder can design a building that is resistant to a powerful storm, then we can structure our lives so that we too are resistant to the destructive power of a storm.  Can you make sure that your foundation is stable and won’t be crumble when impacted.

There are three building blocks for a firm spiritual foundation. 

  1. Our faith must be grounded in Jesus. Paul reminded the Corinthians “for now one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”  We can deepen our connection with Jesus in tangible ways.  We can spend time reading His Word, and allowing Him to speak to us. Prayer is a conversation, not a monologue. Learning to recognize God’s voice is a gift He gives all believers. But the more time we spend in His presence, the better we are at discerning His voice from all the cacophony around us. 
  2. Our faith grows when we live in relationship with other believers. The early church grew not by building sanctuaries, but by spending time in each other’s homes, eating and fellowshipping together. We falter when we try to do life alone. And Jesus reminded His disciples that the way they related to one another was a powerful witness. In fact, loving each other well is how the world knows we are His. 
  3. Our faith grows stronger when we share the message of the gospel with others. Not everyone has the gift evangelism. But we can all share our story and how the gospel has changed us. When we share our faith with others, we obey Jesus’s command. And we grow stronger in faith. 

A century without a test

Hurricane Helene was the most devastating storm our area has endured in over a century. Areas that had hadn’t flooded in our collective memory were under water. But we have learned where our weaknesses lie.

Peter’s rocky foundation

 As soon as Peter realized what he had done, he wept at his failure. He repented . He didn’t make excuses, but admitted his failure. And his failure didn’t define him in the future.  

I imagine that Peter’s failure was the topic of many conversations among Jesus’s followers. They had cause to question his ability to lead.  When Pentecost arrived, Peter preached with boldness. He accused the religious leaders of murdering their Messiah. He didn’t struggle for words, or cower in fear. Instead, he proclaimed the gospel with fearlessness and power than can only come after the storm. 

Jesus told Peter He had prayed for him. And He gave Peter instructions to strengthen the others when He returned. Peter knew that he could return because Jesus had told him so. 

Since He returned to Heaven Jesus intercedes for us. And we can return from defeat just like Peter did. 

How firm is your foundation?  
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Feature photo by Cory Vaillancourt. Used by permission.

Lisa Crowe

Lisa is a writer, a reader, a dog lover and a fountain pen enthusiast. Retired from the State of North Carolina, she is the Partner Services Advocate for MAP Global, and international agency dedicated to empowering believers to find and live their ministry calling. She serves as Prayer Team Director for her local church and leads a Ladies Bible Study. Lisa loves to travel, read, and hike the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. She shares her Canton NC home with her two dogs Daisy and Bernie. You can connect with Lisa on Facebook or Instagram where she microblogs.

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9 comments

  1. The pictures of the undergirding of I-40 near the TN-NC border are quite amazing. My understanding is that I-40 will open 1 lane each way by year-end.

    1. That’s what they tell us. The road is going to hug the rock face and the lanes will be narrow. Not sure I have the nerve to go over it quite yet.

  2. Amen Lisa!
    I appreciate your thoughts on this that storms reveal the strength of our foundation. So True!!
    I love also how are you weave in Peter ‘s story and that the sifting was to prove himself to himself !
    He needed to rely only on Jesus.
    And praise God that Jesus is praying for us.
    Foundations on bedrock are sturdy!

    1. I am so frigid has figure gift of writing and storytelling sweet friend ❤️
      Julie and Mary Beth

      1. I meant I am so grateful for Gods gift of writing and storytelling he has given to you sweet friend ❤️!

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