and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation," (2 Samuel 22:47)
I grew up in an outdoor family. A family who fished, hunted, and just generally enjoyed being outdoors. Some of my earliest (and fondest) memories are from times spent in south Texas, hunting in the rough hill country or splashing in the Rio Frio. When I think of those trips, one of the things I think of is rocks.
Crazy, huh? But bear with me.
If you've never been to south Texas--and I'm not talking about Houston, Austin, or San Antonio--I'm talking about some rough, rugged land covered in scrubby trees, prickly pear cacti, and yes, rocks. I'm not much of a geologist, so I can't tell you what they are, but that part of Texas is littered with these white rocks. I remember thinking a lot of them looked like skulls because they were so white, and they had these ragged holes and edges. Rather like teeth and eye sockets.
Before I was old enough for my dad to put me in a deer stand, I spent time wandering around the campsite. And I picked up a lot of those rocks. I'd collect them while we were there, and occasionally, one of them would be interesting enough that I'd take it home when we left. Some of them ended up in the rock bed in front of Mom and Dad's porch.
But every now and then--actually pretty often, to be honest--I'd go to pick up one of those interesting rocks, only to discover it wouldn't budge. Some of those rocks were like ice bergs, just a little bit showing, with the rest buried under that black Texas dirt. It didn't take long to figure out, if I wanted to take one home, I'd be digging for a while.
Eventually, though, I suppose if I'd been patient enough and persistent enough, I'd have gotten to the bottom of those rocks, and I could've taken them away. Rolled 'em around. Moved them wherever I wanted them to go.
But now I have a Rock that goes with me. And yet, that Rock never moves. God is the one thing in my life I can always count on being exactly who He always was, and who He will always be. No matter how hard the enemy tries, he can't pry that Rock from His throne. He can't take that Rock from my heart. That Rock will always be there, a shelter in times of storm, an anchor from the winds of pain and trouble, a Savior who can't be moved.
"... and blessed be ..."
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
- How can I make sure I'm always clinging to the Rock?
- Who in my life could use the sure strength of God's love and His salvation?
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