Let me begin with the disclosure that I’m the middle child in my family of origin. Middle children tend to be the peace makers and the “responsible” child. The one who tries to “fix it,” whatever “it” may be. We are often called the Rock of the family. Middle children generally stay calm in a crisis, comforting and directing the others. But, I Don’t want to Be the rock, I want to stand on the rock.
I find the reverberations of the death of my Mom, (Dad passed 10 years ago,) have forever altered my life. Don’t get me wrong. It is well with my soul, however, when she was alive, I was not aware how much she served as a point of reference for me. It has been destabilizing. Not in an unhealthy way, but in many practical ways.
Now that she is gone, I am slowly reorienting. Knowing that I am safe in Abba’s care is the greatest assurance when I have new responsibilities and choices.
Being the Rock is too big a responsibility for any human. It is wise to give that job back to the one who never left His post in the first place. I’d like to think I can be the calm middle child in the crisis because I am firmly on the Rock. Our Creator does more than make promises to care for us and give us wisdom. He fulfills all the promises He made.
So, when I face challenging circumstances or seasons, I remember that I am not the rock, but my foundation can not be moved because I am built on the rock of my salvation. I ask God to help me re-frame my circumstances for me so I can see better from His perspective.
King David put it clearly in 2 Samuel 22
“David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent people you save me.
4 “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and have been saved from my enemies.
5 The waves of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
7 “In my distress I called to the Lord;
I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears.
17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
32 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
What are you facing today?
I thank you creator of us all, that you know what we are made of and how much we can handle. I thank you that you promise to not give us more than we can handle…with your to help.
Please give me courage to stand on You
Thank you for being the unshakable and unchangeable Rock. Thank you being my foundation and my hope!
