Helaman 5:12

Image by Mrs. Edie.

I absolutely love this scripture. It is packed with so many powerful phrases - "rock of our Redeemer," "shafts in the whirlwind," "a sure foundation," "they cannot fall."

I love how sure and full of faith this verse is. It declares that, yes, the adversary will fight against us brutally, relentlessly, powerfully, trickily. But it also promises that if we build our foundation on the Son of God, "it shall have no power over you" and "if men build they cannot fall." Such absolutes! Such promises! Such a sure foundation!

I also love the use of the verb "build" in this verse. It implies, slowly, steadily working. It implies an ongoing process, not a destination. It implies that if we take care of the foundation, Christ will make up for our weaknesses and build the rest of the house. Oh, how I need Him to complete my house!

I have seen the powerful promises of this verse fulfilled in my own life, even in the last two weeks. When I center my life on loving and obeying the Savior, I am balanced, productive, righteous, happy, filled with the Spirit. When I grow lazy and neglect to work on building my foundation, the rest of the day I am tossed by the whirlwinds, I slip, I stumble, and I fall. But when I pull myself back up onto the rock of my Redeemer and start laying my foundation again, the winds have no power over me. I cannot fall. 

Caspar David Friedrich, "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog," 1818

How grateful I am for prophets past and present and for my Savior who is my sure foundation, the one who catches me when I fall.