Hard Things - Mountain Movers

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

“There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:1-2 NIV)

The news is depressing. I won’t even bother to recount the local, national, and international economic, political, and other headlines. You already know.

And then there are the more personal things.

After two years of caring for her mom in her home, a friend’s mother passed away this fall.

The nephew of a woman at church was killed in a terrible car crash, and the son of another man formerly at church shot himself in the forehead with a .22.

A friend’s 40-year old husband had a severe foot injury that resulted in the possible amputation of two toes. (Thanks be to God, that wasn’t needed for this breadwinner for a family of 8.)

Our family is trying to make some hard choices about travel during the upcoming holidays, based on schedules, one child’s post-surgery tolerance for sitting in a car long periods of time, and the ever-present financial realities of inflation.

You can probably think of other struggles in yourself or the people immediately around you.

These things reminded me of a song I heard a children’s choir sing a while ago.

“There are hard things that I must do today, dear God. Hard things, but I should like to do them well. And bravely as I can. I ask for courage. Let me not give up when things go wrong, but gladly try another way. Dear God, be near me through the day, and help me do the hard things well.” – Edith Kent Battle

Sometimes the simple purity of a prayer from children’s voices can help to soothe the angst we adults experience from living life.

Perhaps this song is the adult version of that prayer:

Where do I go when there’s nobody else to turn to?
Who do I turn to when nobody wants to listen?
Who do I lean on when there’s no foundation stable?
I go to the Rock, I know He’s able, I go to the Rock

Where do I hide till the storms have all passed over?
Who do I run to when the winds of sorrow threaten?
Is there a refuge in the time of tribulation?
When my soul needs consolation, I go to the Rock

I go to the Rock for my salvation
I go to the stone that the builders rejected
I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me
When the earth all around me is sinking sand
On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand
When I need a shelter, when I need a friend, I go to the Rock*

Yes, this is another post about difficult things. I realize that we are supposed to be turning our attention to the joy and wonder of Christmas, but, somehow, I’m not there yet. I’ve never been a huge fan of Christmas as it’s celebrated in our culture. I love the Bible story and the music, but that’s about where my excitement ends. And when there is so much “other” pressing upon us, it is that much harder to remain in the JOY that God wants us to live in. But, if we know anything we know that our God is a Rock in a weary land, shelter from the storm. So, for that, I give thanks this day and remind myself to “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in [not for!] all things.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) He is our Solid Rock, our Strong Deliverer, the One in whom our souls can rest. Thanks be to God!

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2 NIV)

“Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2 NIV)

God our Rock,

You are our fortress, our deliverer, our shield and stronghold, the one in whom we take refuge. Hide us in you while the storms of life are around us, when we are threatened, when we are alone, when we grieve, when we struggle. Help us to rejoice in who you are – your lovingkindness, your mercy, your grace. Surround us with your Holy Spirit’s love, peace, and joy, we ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.