“From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2

Rock of Ages

Years ago, I began carrying a rock in my pocket. It was to remind me of the Rock of my salvation. I have always had a thing for rocks. Anyway, I came across a children’s book entitled, Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor.* It was about how a child should find his own rock, experiencing where to look, the selection process, the size, the color, the shape, even the smell. For this devotional, I adapted it to my own outlook about my Rock. I hope you will enjoy it.

Rule #1 – You can find this Rock anywhere. He is as close as your heart, as near as your breath. He is in the deepest sea. He is in the highest heaven. He’s there in your sadness and in your celebration. He is in all your ordinary days and in your darkest night.

Rule #2 – Don’t let anything or anyone distract you from finding your true Rock. Don’t let vain philosophy, or worldly knowledge, or empty religion buzz at you. You will find the Rock in the quietness of your own heart.

Rule #3 – You have to look the Rock right in the eye. You have to get heart-to-heart with this Rock. You can’t hide anything from this Rock and believe me, you really don’t want to anyway.

Rule #4 – This Rock is HUGE BIG. This Rock flung the stars from His fingertips. The heaven of heavens cannot contain this Rock. He is awesome. Somehow, though, He is never too big. He’ll fit right in your heart.

Rule #5 – He is not too small. Yet he knows the smallest detail about you. He keeps your tears in a bottle. He knows the number of hairs on your head, maybe even the number of freckles on your face. Don’t worry, you won’t lose Him and He has promised never to lose you, never to leave you, never to forsake you.

Rule #6 – This Rock is just right. Not too small, not too big. He is right there with you whether you are on the run or being still on your own bed. He is easy in your heart every time you reach for Him. You can go to Him a thousand times a day. He loves it when you do.

Rule #7 – This Rock is the perfect color. He is arrayed in white and the Bible (Revelation 2:17) says He will give overcomers a white stone one day which has a name written that no one else will know. Revelation says a rainbow of colors surrounds Him—all the colors you can think of, and I think perhaps some you have never yet seen.

Rule #8 – The shape or form of this Rock is God Himself, yet He took on the form of a servant. You can’t really describe His shape, not yet anyway. Someday we will see Him face-to-face and then we will see His shape plainly.

Rule #9 – Our Rock is a Living Rock and the Song of Solomon says He has a fragrance that is pleasing. Not only that, but because He is a Living Rock, He enjoys pleasant aromas and fragrances, too. In the Old Testament there are multiple verses about Him smelling a pleasing aroma.

Rule #10 – No one can help you choose. This is a decision you will have to make for yourself. It is between you and God. You have to make up your own mind. You’ll know.

Lord, for any who have not yet found You, their Rock, we ask You to reveal Yourself to them. Amen.

*Baylor, Byrd. Everybody Needs a Rock. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing. 1974.