God Is Our Rock
Read Psalm 28:1–2, 6-7.
These verses in 2 Corinthians also remind me of someone who cried out to God. David in the Old Testament poured out many prayers for relief and help from the Lord. He began his prayer in Psalm 28 by saying, “To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock” (verse 1).
Why would David call God a rock? Because a rock symbolizes strength, support, and security. Is that how we see our God—as our Rock in times of trouble?
We more than likely don’t have enemies chasing us down and trying to kill us, but we may recognize some of David’s feelings of fear and distress. Sometimes our anxious thoughts can feel like enemies of their own. We feel overwhelmed by what is happening around us or within us. Yet even when we feel unsteady, we can turn to our Rock. We can bring Him our fears without having to pretend we are strong.
In our weakness, we can find His strength. In His grace, we can find the reassurance of His loving care—an embrace that reminds us we do not have to face the struggle alone.
When We Are in the Pit:
David continued in his prayer, “Do not be silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit” (Psalm 28:1). David’s words speak of death, but that picture of a pit also makes me think about how low we can feel in moments of deep despair. This also reminds me of Joseph in the pit his brothers threw him into. Can you imagine how dark and dreadfully lonely it might have been? How frightening it was to know he could not pull himself out? Do you think he prayed for help? We aren’t specifically told that he prayed in the pit, but we do see his trust in God throughout his story.
Our pit may not be a physical one like Joseph’s. It may be a season of anxious thoughts, sorrow, or uncertainty. When we are under that kind of distress, don’t we often find ourselves pleading for God to answer immediately? We want to be pulled out of the pit right away. But we might not receive a quick rescue or the answer we thought we should have. Joseph eventually saw how God brought good out of what his brothers intended for evil (Genesis 50:20). Paul experienced God’s sustaining strength while his thorn remained. Their circumstances were different, but both accounts give us reason to keep trusting God.
We may not yet see how things will unfold. We can still reach for Him while we wait.
Reaching for Our Great Supplier:
David prayed, “Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary” (Psalm 28:2). David knew who could supply what he needed.
When we are struggling, we can come to God with our hands outstretched, knowing that He is the Great Supplier. We can ask Him for wisdom, comfort, and strength for the next step—even when we don’t know what the next several steps will look like. When our minds are filled with what-ifs, we can pause and ask, “What do I know to be true from God’s Word?” We can bring our worries to Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
In 2 Corinthians 10:4–5, Paul describes God’s mighty weapons against arguments raised against the knowledge of God, including “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” That gives me a question to consider: Am I examining my thoughts in the light of God’s truth, or am I allowing them to hold me captive? This doesn’t mean every anxious thought will immediately disappear. Sometimes we need to return to the same truth and pray the same prayer again. Sometimes reaching for help also means accepting support from others. Don’t miss where the might comes from—it is God’s might. We don’t have to supply all the strength ourselves.
Here you can find a 31 day prayer calendar:
https://www.inspiredimagesbynadia.com/shop/p/my-grace-is-sufficient-31-day-prayer-calendar
Now Here Is Where Things Get Personal:
There was a time in my life I was in a great “pit” of despair that lasted for several years. I thought I would never climb out of it and would never be “myself” again. Even my husband couldn’t reassure me because I was in such a hard place. I asked him if I would ever be normal again, and my positive, always reassuring husband said, “I don’t know.” Well, that was very worrisome to me. Even he was struggling to reassure me! I thought to myself, “Things must be bad.”
But God…
I did get out of that pit, and as I look back, I can see how God helped me as I reached up to Him.
I also began to recognize things that were lacking in my relationship with Him. Oh, I thought I was right where I needed to be, but there were parts of my heart and life I was still holding back. I needed to grow in loving Him with ALL of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. That was something I needed to recognize in my own life. This doesn’t mean that everyone who struggles with anxiety or despair is failing to trust God. Faithful Paul still had his thorn. Our struggles alone do not tell the whole story of our relationship with Him.
As I learned to give my burdens to the Lord, things slowly became better. It wasn’t instantaneous. During that time, I was learning patience and learning to continually seek Him and grow in Christ. And you know what? I’m still not “myself.” I’m much better and more than I ever was now that I’m learning to trust my Strength and my Shield, especially on days when I can’t find myself.
I can look back and recognize His care in the strength to keep going, in the truths I returned to, and in the people who helped me. His grace sustained me while I was still struggling. David’s words have become words I can hold close: “The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.”
—Psalm 28:7
A New Song to Share:
I want others to be able to sing a new song. So that’s why I share and pour out these stories. So many need to hear of this great God who hears our cries and cares for us in our weakness. Are we sharing? Are we telling them how He has helped us? We don’t have to wait until every struggle is behind us to speak of His goodness. We can share how He is helping us today, even if today is still hard.
I’m in a much more desirable place than I was, but He is still working on me. Let Him work on you, too. Be the clay in His hands.
We can keep praying for relief while also trusting Him to sustain us. His grace is sufficient when we come out of the pit, and His strength is there for us while we are still waiting. Although I did get out of the pit, I still deal with some struggles that feel like a thorn in the flesh and I choose to let that keep me close to God, His grace, and His embrace. I can be assured that “when I am weak, then I am strong, “ (2 Corinthians 12:10). I can also lean on this and you can too- “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul “ (Psalm 94:19).
Appropriate Mindset:
In my weakness I find God’s strength, and in His grace, I find His embrace.
When I feel weak, I can let that remind me to reach for Him. I can be honest about what hurts, ask for His help, and rest in the assurance of His care. I don’t have to understand everything that is happening to keep drawing near to my Rock, my Strength, and my Shield.
Affirmations:
In my weakness, I can depend on God’s strength and sustaining grace. —2 Corinthians 12:9–10
God is my Rock, my Strength, and my Shield. I can turn to Him in times of trouble. —Psalm 28:1, 7
I can bring my worries to God because He cares for me. —1 Peter 5:7
I can draw near to God for mercy and grace in my time of need. —Hebrews 4:16
You can find a 31 day calendar of affifrmations here:
https://www.inspiredimagesbynadia.com/shop/p/my-grace-is-sufficient-31-day-affirmations-calendar
Reflection Thoughts:
What have I been asking God to remove from my life? How can I also ask for His strength while I wait?
Are there burdens I am trying to carry on my own that I need to bring to Him?
Where can I look back and recognize His care, strength, and help?
Who might be encouraged by hearing how God has helped me?
