Preparation Produces Peace

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash” (Matthew 7:24-27, NLT).

A farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast, a tough but fertile place to engage in his trade. He constantly advertised for hired hands, but found that most people, even experienced workers, were reluctant to work on farms along the coast. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic that had historically wreaked havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer continued to interview applicants for the job, he received nothing but refusals despite the above average wages and living arrangements he offered. One afternoon a man knocked on the farmer’s door and expressed his interest in going to work. The farmer looked at the man, invited him into the house, and began a conversation.

“Sir, I’m glad you have expressed interest in working on my farm. I hope you will not be offended by what I am about say, but you don’t look like the typical person who applies for a farm hand position.”

“What do you mean?” replied the applicant.

“Well,” the farmer continued, “you are fairly small and appear to be well past middle age. Most people who have applied in the past have been rugged young men.”

The applicant smiled and replied, “Yes sir, I understand what you are saying, but I assure you I can do the job and will be the best farm hand you have ever had on your farm.”

“What makes you so sure of this?” asked the farmer.

“It’s simple really,” the applicant explained, “I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Although a little puzzled by this answer, the farmer was desperate for help so he decided to hire this applicant. The farmer was immediately pleased with the work of his new farm hand. The little man worked well around the farm and kept busy from dawn to dusk.

Then one night it happened. The sky became threatening, the waves began crashing the shore, and the wind howled loudly. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!”

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Enraged by the old man’s response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, concerned about his farm, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and all the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured and everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away.

The farmer smiled and headed back to his house remembering the interview and what the farm hand had told him. He now fully understood what the little old man meant, and he returned to bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

The moral of the story is this: When you’re prepared, you have nothing to fear! Preparation produces peace and because the farm hand took time to prepare when the weather was good, he had no problem sleeping in peace when the storm arose.

Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves firmly in Christ and God’s Word. When we take time to prepare when all is going well, we will have peace when our world is turned upside down.

Pray with Me: 

Father, thank you for reminding me of the importance of preparation. Today I commit to build upon the firm foundation of your Son Jesus and your Word. I have nothing to fear when I spend time meditating upon your promises, and I offer you praise for your peace that goes beyond understanding. Amen.