It’s vacation season, isn’t it? My feed has been full of ocean pictures and sandy beaches lately! And while all that ocean scenery is beautiful, can you imagine if you built your family a house right on the beach? Not along the beach, but right on the sand itself. 

You couldn’t do it, right?

We all practically know that sand does not provide a strong foundation that will support a building. When the tide comes in, the sand moves. Some of it is carried out to sea, and some of it shifts around.

But many times, we build our lives on shifting foundations, just like that beach sand. Thankfully God’s word gives us a different option.

Matthew 7:24-25 reminds us, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

The “words of mine” the passage refers to is the truth found in the Bible. This is perfect truth that provides a firm foundation for our hearts and our lives. When the winds of life threaten to blow us over, God’s truth keeps us secure and unmovable. When the floods of life threaten to drown us in hopelessness, God’s truth is the life vest that keeps our heads above water.

You see, the Bible is our instruction book for life. God invites us to read the directions and follow them. He doesn’t promise we’ll have a perfect life, but He does promise us He’ll show us how to handle the imperfections of life with grace, hope, love, and integrity.

Need a place to start? The list below provides several verses for wherever you’re at today.

Where to Find Help When You’re Feeling—

Angry: Ephesians 4:26–27, 31–32; Colossians 3:7–8, 12–17

Bitter: 1 Corinthians 13; Hebrews 12:14–15; Ephesians 4:31–32

Bored: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18; Philippians 4:8; Ephesians 5:15–16; Psalm 34:1

Critical: Matthew 7:1–5; Romans 1:32–2:1; James 4:11–12

Defeated: Romans 8:31–39; Philippians 4:13; 1 Peter 1:6–7; 1 Peter 5:7

Depressed: Psalm 34; Psalm 37; 2 Corinthians 4:7–10, 16–18; Matthew 11:28

Disappointed: Psalm 16:11; Jeremiah 29:11–13; Philippians 4:19; John 14:1

Disbelief: Mark 9:24; 2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 11:6; John 14:1

Discouraged: Psalm 23; Psalm 42:6–11; Psalm 55:22; Matthew 5:11–12

Dishonest: Proverbs 12:22; Jeremiah 7:8–10; 1 Thessalonians 4:6; John 8:32

Doubt: Numbers 23:19; Matthew 8:26; John 14:1; Proverbs 3:5–6

Embarrassed: Psalm 27:1–3; Psalm 34, Psalm 35; Colossians 3:1–2; Psalm 23

Fear: Psalm 34:4; Matthew 10:28; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:5–6

Guilty: 1 John 1:9; Psalm 51; Psalm 103; Hebrews 10:17; Romans 8:1

Hatred: Proverbs 10:12; 1 John 2:9–11; 1 John 3:10–15; 1 John 4:20

Hypocritical: Luke 6:46; Titus 1:16; 1 Peter 2:1; Ephesians 4:1

Immoral: 1 Peter 2:11; Galatians 5:16; 2 Timothy 2:22; Psalm 51

Impatient: Psalm 25:5; Psalm 27:14; Habakkuk 2:3; Psalm 37:34

Judgmental: Matthew 7:1–5; Luke 6:37

Lonely: Psalm 23; Psalm 68:6; Hebrews 13:5–6; Jeremiah 23:23; Matthew 28:20

Lazy: Romans 12:11; Ephesians 5:15–16; Hebrews 6:12; Proverbs 6:6–11

Overwhelmed: Psalm 46:1; Psalm 50:15; Proverbs 11:8; James 1:2–3

Persecuted: 2 Timothy 3:12: John 15:20; Acts 14:22; Hebrews 12:3

Pressured: Isaiah 26:3; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Philippians 4:13; 2 Timothy 1:7

Prideful: Proverbs 16:18; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Philippians 2:3; James 4:6

Revengeful: Proverbs 17:13; Romans 12:16–19; 1 Peter 2:23

Sad: Isaiah 14:3; Romans 8:28; Revelation 21:4; Isaiah 35:10

Slandered: Psalm 15:1–3; Matthew 5:11–12; Matthew 12:36; 1 Corinthians 4:13

Suicidal: Luke 4:9–12; Genesis 28:15; 2 Peter 2:9; Psalm 23 (If you’re feeling this way, it’s important to get help and to tell someone. A great place to start is the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255)

Ungrateful: Psalm 69:30; Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 1 Timothy 2:1

Unloved: Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:8–19; Lamentations 3:22–23

Weak: Isaiah 40:29–31; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 2 Timothy 1:7; Philippians 4:13

Worry: Matthew 6:19–34; Luke 12:25–26; Philippians 4:6–7; Psalm 23

Worthless: 1 Samuel 16:7: Psalm 139:13–15; John 10:3; Jeremiah 31:3

How about you? Are you trying to build your life on sinking sand? Are the winds of life blowing you over? It’s time to sink your roots into God’s perfect truth, where you’ll find the firm foundation you’ve been looking for.