Hiking a mountain
trail beside a river is a feast for our senses.
The melody of ripples or
rushing water, breathing the fresh air, and gazing at God’s artistry in
nature lifts us up.
I recently hiked a mountain trail in western North Carolina. Along the way, rocks of all sizes filled the
river. In some formations, the water moved gently around the rocks allowing a
smooth flow. In others, waterfalls fell over rocks at dizzying speeds.
In opposite
fashion, the openings between rocks were so close together that the flow grew
into a trickle. Water was trapped in some holes in the rock tops with no way of
escape until thunder clouds dropped heavy rains.
Looking at
all the rock formations and the water flow reminded me of our lives. The ebbs
and flows change life's scenery. In some seasons, life is
smooth. Our job is secure. We successfully
finished college or technical school. Our family is healthy. Our relationship
with the Lord is invigorating. Maybe we are looking forward to that bucket list
vacation. Life is flowing nicely. The music
of peace and calm surrounds us.
At other
times, life rushes at us like a waterfall. It moves too fast; we feel out of
control. We are too busy. Too stressed. Another season finds life turned upside down. A
loved one dies. A child gets sick. A romance flourishes then dies. The Lord seems far, far away. A friend is
mentally ill. Our church is falling apart. The list is endless. We are like the water trapped in a rock hole with no way out. 
Most of us
experience the nooks, crannies, holes, trickles, and flows of the Christian
life.
Whatever rocks we encounter in life's rivers, we can count on the
Rock of our Salvation by drawing from King David’s words in Psalm 18:2, “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.” Sometimes we must repeat this verse over and over and over until we regain our spiritual balance.
The highly
educated Roman citizen Saul who once operated like a hit man, experienced many challenging
seasons after his Damascus Road encounter with his Jewish Messiah. Stoned, imprisoned, put on trial, shipwrecked, Paul's relationship with Jesus sustained him in
the best and worst of circumstances. Here is how he put it in Philippians 4:11-13
“…for I have learned to be content whatever the
circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what
it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and
every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or
in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Whether you are “between a rock and a hard place” or grateful for a
season of favor and joy flowing into your life, embracing biblical truths and
the Rock of our Salvation offers a way to navigate the ebbs and flows of life. What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
