In late May 2010, when the Tropical Storm Agatha had finally finished its course, a 330-foot-deep sinkhole opened in downtown Guatemala City. Like all sinkholes, this one caused the ground to collapse suddenly; but in this case it also sucked land, electricity polls, a three-story factory building, and even a security guard into its deadly pit. The government was also working with 300 neighbors of the sinkhole whose lives and homes were still endangered.

According to a report in The Christian Science Monitor, sinkholes in the United States are most common in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. The ground beneath these states is rich in easily-dissolved rock types. When enough water seeps into these formations, they collapse, creating the large crater known as a sinkhole. Land that looked stable and strong on the surface suddenly collapses, often producing havoc for anyone who lives near the sinkhole.

Unfortunately, our interior lives can sometimes resemble the danger zone of a sinkhole. When we're too busy to spend time with God; or when we refuse to deal with past hurts, habitual sin, secret addictions, or character flaws, we're setting ourselves up for a collapse. The surface of our life may look stable and secure, but underneath the exterior, we're actually sitting on a fragile base. The storms of life—or even just the normal process of living—can suddenly expose our hidden vulnerabilities, causing a spiritual and relational sinkhole to open up.