Are You Clinging to the Rock?

I am excited to have a sweet friend, Mary Denman, as my Final Friday Friends guest today. She is a skilled photographer and has a heart for expressing the Lord's truth through her  talents. If you are interested in photo tips, even for cell phones, check out her blog.

 

Mary is a wife, mom of five, writer, photographer, and all around busy lady. She combines her love of teaching, writing and photography on her blog – www.marydenman.blogspot.com

Mary has had articles published in several national magazines including WHOA Magazine and Focus on Your Child. She has been the conference photographer for Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and loves to do head shots for fellow authors.  Contact Mary at

BLOG:   http://marydenman.blogspot.com

TWITTER: @MaryDenman
IINSTAGRAM: MaryFDenman

 

When I was in Italy last year at Lake Como, I noticed a beautiful clump of flowers growing out of a rock wall. Of course I took pictures.

Then a boat went speeding by, kicking up a strong wake.

The waves started.

 

They washed over the flowers.

 

 

Again and again. 

Covering the plants.

Soaking the plants.

Drenching the plants.

 

It looked like they should drown. Or at least be washed away.

 

But they clung to the wall.

 

Ready for the next onslaught.

 

 

They exhibited tenacity. Perseverance. Quiet strength.

I marveled at the lesson there.

I’ve been like those plants. It’s been the most difficult year of my life by far, burying my mom and father-in-law two weeks apart.

 

Then, two major surgeries four weeks later. Months of recovery.

Waves of grief and loss have washed over me. When I don’t expect them.

 

Threatening to make me feel like I’m drowning.

 

Again and again.

But the flowers cling to the rock.

Why? Because their roots are deep. They dig into the crevices.

The waves crash over them, but they don’t break. They bend. They cling. They remain.

There are days when I feel like I might break. But I haven’t.

Why? Because my roots are deep. They dig into the solid Rock. The immovable Rock.

It isn’t always easy to cling. But I do. I know that God has gotten me this far. I trust him to walk me all the way through. No matter what waves crash over me.

I can’t say this is easy. It’s not. I long for relief some days.

God gives me breaks in between the waves. For that, I am grateful. Very grateful.

But I also know that what I’m going through can be used by God.

To comfort others with the comfort I have received.

To deepen my roots.

And so I think of 2 Cor. 4:8 - We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed: perplexed, but not driven to despair;

 

 

And I cling to the Rock.

Joy Comes in the Morning!

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5


I’ve spent many nights weeping in the last few years. Most were sadness due to the consequences of mistakes I’d made. 

This verse has lifted my heart during those times. 

My Father’s anger, His discipline, lasts only a moment. I might be sad at His correction, but I'm assured of His favor, from now into eternity. I don’t have to re-earn His love and salvation. I'm sealed and will never be set aside.

I might weep for a night but joy comes in the morning! 

The night often refers to a season of weeping – not a literal night. But joy will come. The season of grief will end and joy will come. 

Grief over loss will fade away and the joy of new beginnings will come.

Grief over sins will be cleansed and newness will come.

The grief of anger or bitterness will be healed, if we turn to God, and restoration will come.

Praise God, He never leaves or forsakes us. He never turns His back on us. His joy will come in the dawn of tomorrow.


When has God transformed your night of grief into the joy of morning?