Our Rock

 I believe everyone has something quirky or nerdy about them. Do you know what I mean? It may be something you do or someone else does, but it’s a discovery along life’s way that gets a label slapped on it claiming it to be, “nerdy”. I’m talking about something like a Star-Wars collection, a DC comic book fanatic or knowing a million random trivial facts to be a champion on Jeopardy. How about someone who alphabetizes the salad dressings in their refrigerator? (Maybe that last one is on a whole other level, but you get the point.) 

Is there someone nerdy that comes to your mind right now? Or maybe you are that person and you’re saying to yourself, “Yep, it’s me. I think I have a few quirks of my own.”  Girl, it’s okay. There’s no judgment here! 

What I am about to confess to you is something that not many of you probably know about me. The piece of information that you are about to find out will most likely put me in the “Okay Bethany, that’s a little nerdy” category.

Deep breath…

here it goes. 

This love of mine started when I was a little girl. I found myself fascinated by rocks. It was kind of weird, I know, but stay with me. I was so intrigued by them that I would spend hours on my family computer playing a game that tested rocks to see if they were igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic. What a geologist enthusiast I was working in my self-made rock lab! (I confess to you now that this was a little bit nerdy.) 

As a little girl, I started to collect different kinds of rocks in a box and I found all sorts of rocks. I remember walking on a beach in the Caribbean and finding a lava rock that was washed up from the ocean. Now, that was a find! I won’t bore you with all of the rocks I have in my collection but, maybe just one or two more. 

I found a rock that looked like a big chunk of caramel. I thought this rock was amazing and it really caught my attention. I was so curious about what kind of rock it was that I had to look it up. It had such a unique nature about it and I discovered that it glowed under a black light. Imagine that? Am I the only one who thinks this was pretty awesome? 

Nowadays, when my husband Micah and I go on vacation with his family to the Outer Banks, we walk the beach to try to find fulgurites. Here’s another type of rock that was just so fascinating to me. Here’s a definition that I found to explain what fulgurites are and how they are formed. 

Fulgurites- from the Latin fulgur, meaning "lightning.” This rock is most commonly known as "fossilized lightning", are natural tubes, clumps, or masses of sintered, vitrified, and/or fused soil, sand, rock, organic debris and other sediments that sometimes form when lightning discharges into ground.

Look at the picture above and see how each one is formed. They are each created uniquely and come in a variety of colors. Each one is so different and truly a work of art. 

God’s creation is so beautiful and even in His creation, new things are being created. Just like these fulgurites.  How remarkable is it that each time lightning strikes on the sand, something new is made that was not there before?

I am reminded in Scripture how Jesus is our Rock and Fortress. I encourage you to read the entire chapter of Psalm 18 where it explains in detail how the Lord is our Protector as we go through storms and battles. Jesus is our Firm Foundation, our Rock and our Shield. We just have to keep our eyes on Him and stand upon His Word. 

Psalm 18

“I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; My God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.”

Think about how strong a rock is for a moment. Maybe after you read this blog, take a minute or two and go outside to find a rock. Whether you’re at home or in the parking lot of Target, find a rock. Take a moment to feel how strong that rock is and then take another moment to study it. 

Rocks provide a solid foundation when set in the ground for a structure. They can be built upon. Most anything can stand upon them. Rocks, by nature, are strong. 

Likewise, as temples (houses) of the Holy Spirit, our foundation is Jesus - our Rock. The Bible says that Jesus is our Firm Foundation. He is our Cornerstone. We are temples built on Jesus Christ, our ROCK. 

The battles in our lives will come and each one will test the strength of our foundation. It’s through the battle that our foundation can be strengthened rather than shaken. The very battle that was deployed to destroy can be the very battle that strengthens you. 

Later on, in Psalm 18 David declares, 

“You gave me victory over my accusers. You appointed me ruler over nations; people I don’t even know now serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they submit; foreign nations cringe before me. They all lose their courage and come trembling from their strongholds.

The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! 

May the God of my salvation be exalted! He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he subdues the nations under me and rescues me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents. For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.”

The battle belongs to the Lord. We stand on a firm foundation that will not be shaken. So, every time I find a rock that catches my eye, I am reminded of this assurance. And, even if it may be a bit nerdy, I’m perfectly okay with it!