When the Ground Beneath You Shakes: Finding a Firm Foundation

Build a faith that lasts and discover how to find a firm foundation in Christ when life feels shaky. A free Bible study link is included at the end.

A few years ago, I stood in my kitchen crying over something that seemed ridiculously small: a broken butter dish. But it wasn’t about the dish. It was about everything. The weight of unanswered prayers, unexpected losses, and the quiet ache of wondering if God saw me anymore.

That night, I realized something: my faith had become tangled in feelings instead of truth.

I felt abandoned, so I assumed I was.

I felt weak, so I believed I must be a disappointment to God.

I was building my spiritual house on sand (emotion, assumption, and experience), rather than the solid foundation of God’s Word.

I didn’t need a motivational quote. I needed truth. And I needed it in layers, like bricks, one on top of the other.

That’s where this idea of a “foundational faith” began to take root.

Faith Isn't Built in the Fire. It’s Tested There

Most of us want deep faith, but we wait for the storm to build it. That’s backwards. Storms don’t build faith; they reveal what it’s built on.

If we haven’t poured the concrete of God’s Word into the core of our beliefs, we’ll feel every gust of life like a hurricane.

Scripture reminds us:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24

START HERE:

• Read Matthew 7:24–25 out loud.

• Ask: What is the rock, what is the sand.

• Write one truth about God from this verse.

• Pray: “Lord, help me build on Your Word today.”

Who Is God, Really?

The starting place of unshakable faith isn’t in believing harder. It’s in knowing who we’re believing in. God is not an absentee landlord. He’s not surprised by your pain. He’s not pacing the throne room wondering what to do next.

He is holy, faithful, unchanging, all-knowing, and entirely trustworthy. Not because your life feels easy but because He is who He says He is. When we know His nature, we can trust His plan, even when it’s confusing.

What About Jesus?

Faith isn’t generic belief in God. James says even demons believe. The foundation of Christian faith is Jesus, fully God, fully man, crucified for our sins, and resurrected in power. If our “faith” doesn’t rest on Him, it will crumble under pressure.

Jesus is not just the entry point to faith. He is the cornerstone.

Where Does the Holy Spirit Fit In?

When I finally slowed down enough to cry out to God and open my Bible again, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a while: peace. Not because the circumstances changed, but because I wasn’t alone in them. The Holy Spirit, who is God with us and in us, was actively ministering to my weary heart.

We don’t walk this journey of faith in our own strength. We are empowered, reminded, comforted, and even convicted by the Spirit of God. That’s not a theological bonus feature; it’s part of the foundation.

Build Now. Before the Next Storm.

Maybe you’re in a storm right now. Or maybe you’re like I was...wobbly, weary, and unsure of what’s true anymore. Start building today. Don’t wait for the skies to clear.

Begin with truth. Lay the foundation:

• Why Study the Bible?

• What are the Structures of the Bible ?

• How Do I Choose a Bible

• What Translation is Best for Me?

• What Bible Study Tools are out there?

These aren’t questions for scholars. They’re questions for us. For moms at the kitchen sink. For dads in traffic. For teenagers scrolling their phones. For tired believers wondering if any of this really matters.

Friend, your faith was never meant to be fragile.
Build it on the Rock. It will stand.

If you’re not sure where to start, I’ve created a free printable study called Foundations of Faith. It walks you through who God is, what Jesus has done, how the Holy Spirit helps us, and how to build a faith that lasts.

No fluff. Just truth, layer by layer.
You can download it below and start today, right where you are.

👉 Click here to get your free copy of the Foundations of Faith Bible Study.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need a place to begin.

Reflection: Where am I building on feelings instead of truth today. What one verse will I practice this week.

Prayer: Father, steady my heart in Your Word. Build my life on Christ the Rock. Teach me to listen and obey. In Jesus’ name, Amen.