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For two days, Mumbai (formerly Bombay) has faced relentless rains, flooding, and water that refuses to recede. I reside in the suburbs, and we see that the volume of rain in 2 to 3 days is relentless. Such times of natural pressure expose how fragile human systems are — transport halts, livelihoods are shaken, and families are trapped in tension. The city, known for its resilience, suddenly bends under a weight that no one can control.

This mirrors what Scripture calls “the evil day” (Ephesians 6:13), when trials and storms test the foundations we are standing upon. Floods do not only affect streets; they reveal whether our inner man is anchored in Christ or swept by fear and restlessness.

Foundations #

Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (AMP)
“Be unceasing and persistent in prayer.”

Redeem the time.

Ephesians 5:15–16 (NET)
“Therefore be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Christ as our peace in the storm.

Mark 4:39 (ESV)
“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

The pressure of rain and floods reminds us that the old Adamic man is restless, anxious, and fearful in crisis. He seeks survival in his own strength. But in Christ, we have already been crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20, AMP):

“I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [of] the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Notice Paul does not say faith in the Son of God, but the faith of the Son of God — His very faith working in us. This means in moments of flooding waters, we do not muster our own confidence. We draw from His unshakable trust in the Father.

Walking It Out in the New Covenant #

• Pray without ceasing – not as a ritual, but as breathing Christ’s life within us, turning panic into communion. Prayer keeps us anchored to the Rock.
• Redeem the time – floods may stop activities, but they open windows to minister to neighbours, encourage online, or gather in prayer. For storms remind us life is short and eternity is real.
• Be still in the storm – the same Christ who stilled Galilee’s storm speaks peace within our souls, even if Mumbai’s waters do not recede quickly. Build not on shifting sands of culture, but on the eternal Rock who is Christ.

Reflection #

Modern ministry often mirrors Mumbai’s traffic: constant movement, pressure to “do more,” and programs that rarely stop. But crises reveal whether ministry is flowing from the word and Spirit or human effort. Many structures are built on the sand of entertainment, prosperity hype, or motivational rhetoric. They may look attractive, but they cannot withstand the torrents of societal pressures, persecution, or internal collapse. The true test is not in the calm but in the flood.

• Some churches now lean heavily on trends — social media visibility, motivational speeches, or prosperity promises. While these connect with crowds, they sometimes fail to anchor believers in endurance when literal or spiritual floods come.
• The Word calls us back to unceasing prayer, redeeming the time, and crucified living — truths not dependent on trends but on eternal union with Christ.
• Social media pushes performance rather than presence.
• Churches sometimes build crowds but not disciples.
• Ministry can be measured by popularity instead of depth in Christ.
• Yet, there are also shining examples where churches have remained faithful to the Word, cared for the poor in the floods, opened their halls and homes as shelters, and lived out the gospel practically. This shows what it means to stand firm in Christ.

Two Responses to Pressure #

Matthew 7:24–25 (AMP)
“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man [a farsighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”

The Greek word for “rock” here is petra, meaning a solid mass of rock, immovable and stable. This rock is not self-effort, religion, or human wisdom. It is Christ Himself.

• Floods in Scripture often picture overwhelming trials, judgment, or chaos (Psalm 69:1–2).
• When life is shaken, we see whether our house (life, ministry, faith) is on sand (the old Adamic man, fleshly confidence) or on rock (Christ, the new covenant life).
• The rains test foundations, not decorations. Outward ministry success or cultural relevance cannot sustain us when the storms of life and pressures of society come. Only Christ within can.

Sand vs. Rock #

In Christ,
Godwin.