And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  Matthew 7:25 We don't immediately see the reason behind all that God requires of us...there is a huge trust factor involved...a thing called 'faith'.  Faith - self = trust. Be sure you write that equation down...it's important. Sometimes the Word of God hits our ears without understanding....We read it and can't quite see how it 'fits'. Our circumstances are unique in our own perspective. Our 'self' wants controll, our 'self' needs to reason logically. God is always bigger than our logic. Write that down too. Logic will tell you to build an empire...secure yourself...trust your bank account. Produce more...retire early, command your own destiny. It's the reasonable thing to do. The Trust Factor will lead you away from what is logical: "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock." Matthew 7:24 Often God's Word is only reasonable in retrospect. More often he will ask you to step into a raging river at flood stage and expect the waters to part. More often He will ask you to enter the furnace believing you will not get burned.  We're not called to believe what we see...we're called to follow beyond our ability to reason. Every time we do, He emerges in all His splendor...a glimpse of who He is emerges to someone who has never seen Him before! Reason and logic fail us often...but He is there...lurking in the things that make no sense. He's the Rock that waves can crash against and never move. While the world around you shifts and moves with each tide and fierce wind...He says..."build here, I AM."     Faith -self  = trust.  God is always bigger than your logic.