Unless YHWH Builds Your House

I think God gave women special radar that helps us hone in on circumstances around us and diagnose problems. We seem to understand when things aren’t quite right, but sometimes we don’t have the ability to fix things in our own strength.

One of the reasons we have a special sense of what’s going on is that God created us to be our husband’s helper.

“YHWH God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’” (Genesis 2:18).

Adam was created in the image of God, yet he wasn’t complete without a woman created in his image, specifically designed to complete him and complement him (see 1 Corinthians 11:7-8).

When we work with our husbands toward common goals, we feel a great fulfillment that I believe was part of what God intended for us.

However, as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin and the curse, sometimes we women try to exalt ourselves over our husbands (Genesis 3:16).  We reason that since our husbands badly need us, we must be better than they are.

Sometimes we try to take on too much, trying to do our own jobs plus our husband’s jobs. “Anything he can do I can do better” becomes our chant.

Maybe we don’t try to steal work from our husbands, but sometimes we pamper our children by not requiring enough from them. Or maybe we allow all the extracurricular activities available to influence us too much, sometimes saying “yes” to too many things. Or maybe we plan too much for our homeschooling year, sometimes not being realistic about our abilities and strength.

Maybe we’ve been honest in our marriage and parenting, but sometimes we can’t say “no” at church or to friends. Maybe we see real needs in the community around us, but sometimes we forget that we can’t meet all the needs ourselves.

Maybe none of these problems has affected us, but sometimes sickness has hit our home, throwing a monkey wrench into our plans. Sometimes a financial problem that no one foresaw causes concern and extra exertion.

Unless YHWH builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless YHWH watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves (Psalm 127:1-2).

Whatever the mess you’re in, God’s Word has an answer. His answers are always characterized by peace, a peace “which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). This kind of peace can only come from Him, but He promises to guard your heart and mind with it.

Before you can find this peace, even in the midst of a storm, you must “not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

What things are causing chaos in your home today?

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Now, go back and put a checkmark next to each item, after you’ve prayed about it. Spend some serious time doing this, telling God that you understand that unless He builds your house, all your labor and effort will be in vain. Ask Him to “guard your city” and to grant you sleep and peace, no matter the circumstances.