The Foundation of Our Hope: Christ Jesus
"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."
– 1 Corinthians 3:11
Building a Firm Foundation in Jesus Christ
I love the beach. There’s something about the sound of the waves, the salty air, and the feeling of the sun on my face that makes me feel at peace. But you know what’s not so peaceful? Trying to walk on the sand. It shifts under my feet, making every step a little more difficult. If you’ve ever tried running on the beach, you know exactly what I mean—one step forward, and suddenly, you’re sinking, sliding, or struggling to stay balanced. Life can feel like that sometimes—one moment, everything seems steady, and the next, you’re trying to catch your footing in the middle of chaos. But here’s the good news: Jesus Christ offers us a foundation that will never shake.
What Are You Building On?
In Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus tells a story about two builders—one who built his house on the rock and another who built his house on the sand. When the storms came, only the house built on the rock stood firm. That rock is Christ. But let’s be honest, sometimes we’re tempted to build on things that seem solid but don’t actually hold up when life gets tough.
For a long time, I thought I was building my life on a solid foundation. I was doing all the “right” things—setting goals, working hard, trying to control my own future. But then, the Lord gave me an image in my mind of the house I had built. And it was… well, a mess. It was unsteady, mismatched, and lopsided. Some walls were too thin, others too thick, and the whole structure leaned awkwardly in different directions. It was standing, but just barely. And then, I saw Him begin to deconstruct it—piece by piece, removing everything I had built in my own strength. And as painful as it was, I realized that in tearing it down, He was actually rebuilding me.
Maybe you’ve tried to build your foundation on:
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Success – Thinking, If I just achieve this goal, I’ll be secure.
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Relationships – Believing, As long as this person is in my life, I’ll be okay.
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Finances – Thinking, If I can just make enough money, I’ll feel safe.
The problem? These things can change in an instant. Success fades, people disappoint, and finances fluctuate. But Jesus? He remains the same—yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). When we build our lives on Him, our foundation is firm, steady, and secure—no matter what storms come.
How Do We Build on Christ?
So how do we build our lives on Jesus, our solid rock? Here are a few practical ways:
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Read & Live His WordGod’s Word is like the blueprint for a sturdy foundation. The more we read it, meditate on it, and apply it, the stronger our foundation becomes. Don’t just read it—live it. When you start aligning your life with His truth, you begin to stand firm no matter what comes your way.
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Talk to Jesus DailyBuilding on Christ isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about relationship. Prayer isn’t just a routine; it’s a conversation with the One who loves you most. Bring Him your struggles, your fears, and your victories. The more time you spend with Him, the stronger your connection becomes.
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Walk in ObedienceImagine trying to build a house but ignoring the instructions. It wouldn’t turn out well, right? The same goes for our faith. When we obey God’s commands, even when it’s hard, we are reinforcing our foundation. Trusting Him, even when we don’t understand, builds spiritual strength.
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Stay Connected to Other BelieversYou weren’t meant to do this alone! Surrounding yourself with other believers—through church, Bible study, or a small group—helps strengthen your faith. We encourage each other, challenge each other, and remind each other to stand firm when life gets rough.
Standing Strong in the Storm
Life is full of storms. Job losses, heartbreaks, disappointments, unexpected hardships. But when our foundation is Jesus, we may shake, but we won’t collapse. He holds us up, carries us through, and reminds us that our hope is secure.
If you’ve been feeling like your foundation is a little shaky, it’s never too late to start rebuilding on the Rock. Start today—open His Word, talk to Him, and trust that when the storms come, you’ll be standing strong.
What’s one way you’re strengthening your foundation in Christ today?
Let’s encourage each other in the comments!
❤️ #FaithFoundation #JesusIsMyRock
Spend 5 minutes in silence, listening for God’s voice
Daily Faith Challenge
30-Day Guided Prayer Journal: Journey to the Resurrection – Jesus, Our Hope
The journey to the Resurrection is one of hope, renewal, and victory in Jesus Christ. Over the next 30 days, this guided prayer journal will help you deepen your faith, reflect on the power of Christ’s sacrifice, and prepare your heart to celebrate His glorious resurrection. Each day includes a scripture, reflection, guided prayer, and space to journal your thoughts and prayers.
The Promise of Hope
God’s Plan of Redemption
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
Genesis 3:15 –
Reflection: From the very beginning, God had a plan for redemption through Jesus. How does this promise give you hope?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your perfect plan of salvation. Help me to trust in Your promises and walk in the hope of Christ. Amen.
Journal: How has God shown you His redemption in your life?
Day 1 - Devotional
Waiting in Hope
“We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.” — Psalm 33:20
Reflection:
Waiting is hard. Whether it's waiting for an answer to prayer, a breakthrough, or a season of change, it can feel like time is standing still. But waiting in hope is different. It’s not idle, anxious waiting—it's active trust in God.
Psalm 33:20 reminds us that our hope is in the Lord alone. He is both our help—the One who provides for our needs—and our shield—the One who protects us. When life feels uncertain, we can choose to wait with expectation, knowing that God is working even when we can’t see it.
Hope is not wishful thinking; it’s a confident assurance that God is faithful. If you're in a waiting season today, take heart. God sees you, He is with you, and His plans for you are good.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I put my hope in You today. You are my help and my shield, and I trust that You are working in ways I cannot see. Teach me to wait with faith, knowing that Your timing is perfect. Strengthen my heart as I rest in Your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions:
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What are you waiting on God for right now?
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How can you shift from anxious waiting to hopeful expectation?
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What is one promise from Scripture that reminds you of God’s faithfulness?
Today's Thought:
Hope in God is never wasted—He is always working for your good.
Bible Reading
Hope Foretold – The Promise of a Savior
The Old Testament prophecies of hope, pointing to Jesus as the Messiah
Genesis 3:14-15 – The first promise of a Savior
The Serpent’s Deception
(Romans 5:12–21)
1Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
2The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’”
4“You will not surely die,” the serpent told the woman. 5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
7And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.
God Arraigns Adam and Eve
8Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breezeb of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”
10“I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
11“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
12And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
“The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”
The Fate of the Serpent
14So the LORD God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this,cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field!
On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat, all the days of your life.
15And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed.
He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.c”
The Punishment of Mankind
16To the woman He said:“I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children.Your desire will be for your husband,d and he will rule over you.”
17And to Adam He said:
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree
of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you;
through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
18Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—
because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
20And Adam named his wife Eve,e because she would be the mother of all the living.
The Expulsion from Paradise
21And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.
22Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”
23Therefore the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life.
Scripture Affirmation
I place my hope in the Lord, for He is my help and my shield. In every season of waiting, I trust in His perfect timing and unfailing love. He protects me, strengthens me, and leads me with His wisdom. My heart rests in Him, knowing He is always faithful.
“I wait in hope for the Lord; He is my help and my shield.” – Psalm 33:20
Praying God's Word
"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield." – Psalm 33:20
Heavenly Father,
I come before You today, placing my hope in You alone. You are my help when I feel weak and uncertain, my shield when fear and doubt try to overtake me. Lord, I confess that waiting is not always easy, but I trust that Your timing is perfect. You see what I cannot, and You are always working for my good.
Strengthen my heart as I wait upon You. Help me to rest in the assurance that You are my protector and my provider. When the enemy whispers lies of discouragement, remind me that my hope is secure in You. When the storms of life come, let me stand firm, knowing that You are my refuge.
Thank You for being my ever-present help in trouble, my shield against the attacks of the enemy, and my source of unshakable hope. I will wait in expectation, knowing that You are faithful.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.