Firm Foundations | Dig Deep: Exposing Hidden Cracks in Our Foundations

“We can’t build up without first digging down. Let the Lord reveal what’s unstable beneath.”

Opening Prayer

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, And to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, And thy faithfulness every night. Our Lord and our God, all glory, laud, and honour belong to You. Worthy is Your Name. Thank You for this moment in time where we can recognize You as The One who sees beyond our surface. You know what lies beneath the smiles, the strength, and the service. Today, we invite You to search us—to go deep into our hearts and reveal anything that weakens our foundation. We trust You to dig, not to destroy, we trust You to heal. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Family, we continue on this journey in the construction industry. We established yesterday the importance of the cornerstone.

Today, we want to make it clear  that before builders pour concrete or lay bricks, they dig. 

And how deep we dig, the depth of a structure’s foundation, often determines its ability to stand, especially during storms or shifting soil. 

Likewise, before we try to build strong relationships, successful ministries, or personal growth, we must allow God to deal with what’s underneath. Yahhh. We have to uncover some stuff. Drag some stuff from under the rug. Pull some stuff out of the closet. Yahhh.

See, because cracks don’t start at the surface—they begin below. So that relationship that seemingly suddenly turned sour…look again: there were some cracks we ignored or missed.

Sometimes, Family, the issue isn’t the people we’re connected to, the church we attend, or the opportunities we’re given. The problem is often internal—unresolved trauma, bitterness, trust issues, insecurity, jealousy, control. 

These are the “hidden cracks” that sabotage what could have been strong relationships or effective service. In these times, I wish I had 100% discernment, insight and foresight, to spot pretenders, fake prophets, and people who are selfish and mean no earthly good.

Matthew 7:15-20 (NLT) admonishes us to:“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” 

At the same time, not to be casting stones at anyone, because it takes two to tango, all of us need always to ask God, as in Psalm 139:23–24, to (New Living Translation):“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

This is a bold prayer. It asks God to dig below the outer image we project or perceive, and uncover the mess we’d rather ignore. But unless we let Him do that deep work, we will always build on shaky emotional ground.

Now some of us may be asking, “Why do I always attract emotionally unavailable people?” Or, “Why do I get defensive in every close friendship?”

Maybe we are afraid to commit. Or maybe we expect people to abandon us before they do. 

Thankfully, these are not signs that we are broken beyond repair. They are cracks—invisible patterns that have formed over time.

And there’s good news: God wants to heal them.

In Hebrews 4:12 (Amplified Bible), we’re reminded:“For the word of God is living and active and full of power… exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The Word of God doesn’t just correct behaviour—it reveals motives. That’s why when we spend time in Scripture, something begins to stir in us. 

We start recognizing patterns—pride that masks as discernment, jealousy that hides behind “righteous” boundaries, fear that dresses itself up as wisdom.

Truth is: digging deep isn’t comfortable. It’s messy. 

In excavation, things that were buried—sometimes for years—resurface. But that’s the first step toward healing. We cannot heal what we won’t face. And we can’t expect only one party to dig while the other party watches from a distance, unwilling to get their hands dirty. 

True healing—whether in relationships, communities, or within ourselves—requires mutual humility, effort, and a willingness to confront the mess together.

This is especially important in relationships. If we don’t allow God to expose our personal faults, we’ll keep blaming others for outcomes we helped create. And the enemy would love for you to believe the lie that “this is just how I am.”

But that’s not what the Word says.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) declares:“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

We must be grateful that God doesn’t just put up drywall over damaged places. God renovates. 

God is not afraid of the dirt in our foundations. God wants to dig, not to condemn us.

God wants to cleanse us. 

And the deeper He digs, the more stable the life we build on Him will be.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, we give You permission to dig deep today. Uncover the hidden cracks—our fears, wounds, defense mechanisms, and thought patterns. Shine the light of Your truth into every corner of our heart. We want to be made whole so we can love well, serve well, and build strong. In Jesus’ name, amen.