Grounded in God: Standing on the Rock

“…for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”  1 Corinthians 10:4 NIV

As human beings we tend to want to put our trust in other people or things. Tangible objects. Something you can touch, feel, and know it’s there. So how does God fit into this picture?

Lately, my ground has been shaken. My foundation does not seem secure anymore. If it ever did. I believe it was all an illusion in my mind.

I believe I have been holding on because of financial support provided to me, and a therapist who has been rock solid in his encouragement and support.

However, because life happens, things have changed. I realize I cannot count on any of these things to be my foundation. This doesn’t mean I can’t count on them to still help me and be there for me. It just means, I am very aware how much I have been relying on humans who are imperfect, instead of God who is perfect and unfailing.

In times such as these hymns from growing up in church come to my mind more than today’s choruses. The hymn in my head reminding me where my foundation needs to be is The Solid Rock by: Edward Mote. The first two verses and chorus seem to fit our journey in recovery from abuse well.

“My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But holy lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.”

My hope has been built in humans and this world. This will always backfire and fail us. It will always let us down. If we build our hope in Christ and nothing less, then we have Jesus to lean on and a Solid Rock to stand.

“When darkness seems to hide His face,” which it has, many times during my recovery and I’m sure in yours as well. During these times I have been turning to the things this world tries to offer which will always fail us, no matter how hard somebody loves you or wants to help you. They are human and no one but God can promise us He will always be there.

So in the darkness when it hides His face, we need to “rest in His unchanging grace”. God will never change. People will come and go. God will ALWAYS be there for us.

I find I need to ground myself in God, to trust in God, not humans. Hope in God, not people.

This is not an easy task. It goes against everything the world teaches us. Even in the church we are called to build community, which is good, but ultimately the ONLY One we can count on is God.

So during this season’s trial, and right now the added grief of disappointment and discouragement, I am going to do my best to turn to God and stand on His rock.

I don’t want to sink in the sand anymore. My head is barely above it right now.

It’s time to try to really hope on nothing but Jesus. This journey is too hard not to.

Father God,

I ask for you to help me stand on Your Rock today, and every day. To put my hope in You, and not this world, or the people in it. I want to stand on You. One step at a time, hour by hour, minute by minute. Help me ground myself in You God.

Amen

 

© 2018 Susan M. Clabaugh. All Rights Reserved.