When We Remember Where We Stand

By Javier & Alba

As Semillas de Esperanza Church, this Thursday, August 20, we shared one of those moments that may seem simple, yet can remain in the heart for a very long time. We gathered around the table, talked together, studied the Word, and prayed for one another. There was no rush to finish and no need to pretend that everything was fine. We simply stood together in the presence of God. And there, a powerful truth echoed once again: there are moments when we do not need to become stronger; we simply need to remember who our Rock is. Proverbs 30:26 speaks of small creatures with little strength, yet they make their homes among the rocks. Their security does not depend on their size, but on their position. Jesus takes this image even deeper in Matthew 7:24–25: when the rain falls, the floods rise, and the winds blow, the house remains standing because it was built on the rock. Perhaps our greatest strength as a church is not having all the answers, but knowing where to turn when we do not. As pastors, we are not called to walk before others pretending to be invulnerable. We walk together toward Christ, reminding one another that our security was never found in ourselves.

Luke 12 confronts us with extraordinary tenderness. Jesus speaks about worry, possessions, the future, fear, and anxiety, yet in the midst of it all He says: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). What a beautiful way to remind us of our true position: we are His flock, and He is our Shepherd; we are His children, and He is our Father. The Christian life begins to truly transform us when we stop living as though everything depends on our ability to control life. Our position in Christ changes the way we face tomorrow, the way we see one another, and the way we carry our own struggles. That is why praying for one another is not simply one part of a gathering. It is a way of saying, “You do not have to carry this alone.” It is becoming a community where someone can acknowledge their vulnerability without losing their dignity, because we are all held by the same grace. A healthy church is not a collection of strong people; it is a family that knows where its strength comes from.

And when we understand our position, the way we live begins to change as well. Proverbs 20:27 says, “The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being.” God does not desire only our attendance, our right words, or our religious moments; He desires our hearts. Psalms 96–100 repeat a truth we need to remember again and again: the Lord reigns. If He reigns, then our faith must reach into the way we speak, forgive, serve, love, and treat the people who walk beside us. Perhaps this is the deepest challenge of what we experienced together: to go home remembering not only who God is, but also who we are in Him. When I know that I am standing on the Rock, I no longer need to prove that I am stronger than anyone else. I can love without competing, serve without seeking recognition, ask for help without shame, and extend mercy because mercy was first extended to me. Knowing where we stand does not make us superior; it makes us more humble, more compassionate, and above all, more capable of loving.

Javier & Alba