MY ROCK
06th Mar 2024
Psalm 61:2 says, “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
I was born in Cornwall, and spent the first half of my life living there. Some of my childhood memories are of leaping over the rocks on Porthtowan beach, and climbing the highest rock on whatever beach we had chosen to visit. There was something exhilarating about standing on the top of a rock, it changed your perspective and as a child gave you a sense of being on top of the world.
A friend of ours who was being healed from a traumatic life experience, was told by the Lord, “When your mind is in a turmoil, read the Word, and when your emotions are out of control, worship.” As this lifestyle was put into action, one of the songs given was, “Praise the Name of Jesus, He’s my rock, He’s my fortress, He’s my deliverer in Him will I trust, Praise the Name of Jesus.” These instructions were life transforming.
The concept of “Rock” often appears in the Scripture. The very next Psalm says, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
One of David’s most well known Psalm 18:2 says, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge.”
The concept of a “Rock” struck me as Psalm 61 came up in my daily reading. There are so many things that are trying to shake our confidence. We may be waiting for test results on some health issue. There may be personal issues that are robbing us of peace. Our lives may be in a time of crisis. It is at these moments that fear can attack, and rob us of peace. We need to go to the “Rock” that is higher than anything we are facing.
I love seeing the Cross that is placed on Chapel Rock in Perranporth every Easter. It is a wonderful declaration of the victory of Jesus over death, sin and every trial and difficulty that is seeking to rob us of our peace and security.
by Charles Sibthorpe