Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Stuck between a rock and a hard place…somewhere nobody wants to be! We all understand that a rock is hard and immovable and who hasn’t faced a ‘hard place’ in their lives? Whether financial, marital, physical or relational, hard places are no fun.
But what happens when we change our definitions? What happens when we consider rock to be The Rock?
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:46
The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Saviour!
Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
And how about considering the ‘hard places’ in this light?
Hebrews 12:6
…because the Lord disciplines those He loves and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.
Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those He loves, as a father the son He delights in.
Revelation 3:19
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
Living in the midst of trial is not an easy place to be. Discouragement, frustration and hurt can be all consuming if we allow them to be.
In raising our children, it has not always been fun. We have had to punish, chastise and discipline our children. The tiny voice that responds with feelings of hurt and rejection all but tear out a parent’s heart. Still, we know what is best for our young ones and will protect them – even from themselves. Learning to say no to someone you love is difficult but necessary. What happens when your child wants more candy? A piece of candy usually isn’t a problem but what if you know the child has already had too much candy? What if the child is diabetic and that piece of candy could cost them their life?
All throughout our children’s lives, we help them learn how to make good choices and how to grow. Reflect that to our relationship with God and the picture is exactly the same. He knows what is best for us and sometimes He will say no. Sometimes, He will allow us to suffer or struggle and it WILL hurt. Often we will not understand and things will not seem fair.
Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
God’s purposes are pure and His love for us far exceeds even our love for our children. Looking at your circumstances today, can you see what God is teaching you?
1 Peter 1:6
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.
2 Peter 3:14
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.