MY ROCK
MY ROCK
A RUDE AWAKENING
Have you ever been walking along and all of a sudden find yourself sitting on your butt on the ground. Maybe something tripped you, or you stepped wrong or maybe you stepped on a slippery surface. This has happened to me more than one time, but there was one particular time that I remember that made an impact on me. We were having a winter storm. I was
going out to check on my dogs in their pen and to feed them. As I stepped on the top step that I thought was safe, all of a sudden, I found myself sitting on the ground in shock. I hit every brick step as I went down, hitting my elbow on the first and my butt on every step as I slid down the icy steps. I sat there for a while, then gathered my wits about me and went into the house, got an ice pack from freezer for my gluteus media (upper butt) and laid in the bed for awhile watching my elbow become two times its original size. I laid there and prayed. The roads were too icy for me to make my way to the emergency room. As I prayed the discomfort and swelling of my elbow began to resolve. God healed my elbow. My butt was very tender for a good many days. I learned from this episode that sometimes it is not good to be so independent, sometimes we need to lean on another for assistance.
LEARNING THROUGH THE PAIN
Sometimes we decide we are going to do things our own way and in our own timing. If I had waited for my husband to go out with me, I probably would never have had experienced the pain. Is it not the same in our spiritual walk with God? If we lean into Him, there are so many situations/pains we would have never had to experience. Too many times we think we are strong in our own selves and do not need to lean into Him (Jesus), seeking His wisdom in our daily lives. We lean on our own knowledge many times, looking at our past to be our teacher instead of the Holy Spirit being our teacher and counselor. (Psalm 3:5-8) Proverbs 3:5-8 speaks about trusting in the Lord with all our hearts, not relying on our own insights and sometimes past events. Yes, we need to learn from our past and make changes in our way of doing things, but that knowledge needs to be sprinkled heavily with the salt and light of the 
wisdom of God. Way too many times we allow hurt, pain, and offense guide us instead of the knowledge and the wisdom of God. Proverbs 3 makes it plain that we should acknowledge and bring the Holy Spirit right into the center of our lives, right in the center of our mess. When we do this, He will take that which is drama and chaos and bring His wisdom and clarity in every situation of our lives.
LEANING INTO THE ROCK, JESUS CHRIST
So today and everyday of my life I choose to lean into God and not my own understanding. My own knowledge and understanding have gotten me in trouble many times, just like it did the day I decided I did not need any help going down those icy steps. I choose not to be wise in my own eyes, but to be in awe of an all-powerful God that sees me. He sees my past, yet still loves me! He sees my present, with it struggles and need for guidance! And He sees my future and He will be right there with me in spite of my wrong decisions and craziness! I can choose to delay His destiny that He has for me, or I can choose to lean into Him with my ear to His heart allowing Him to guide me in this beautiful way/walk. I choose to lean my rock, my strong tower, my strength, Jesus Christ allowing Him to be my center/my soft place to fall! (Psalm 31:3, Psalm 18:2)
Proverbs 3:5-8
5Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6 In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
7Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.
8It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts]
And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.
Psalm 31:3
3Yes, You are my rock and my fortress;
For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
Psalm 18:2
2The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me;
My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge;
My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.
