The Rock

This world was created out of nothing. Often times we marvel at the splendor of nature. You look out into the heavens and watch the stars sparkle so brightly and so far out of reach. You hike the forests and climb the mountains looking for untouched, unspoiled, unadultered nature to calm and soothe us from the hustle and bustle of the lives we lead. We watch the clouds in the sky, the waves crashing on the shore, the birds in flight, the sunrise and the sunset, the colors of the flowers, the scent of the air after rainfall. God is an artist, a magnificent creator of all that is beauty in aesthetics and in essence.

Lord, you've created everything with such splendor and magnificence and such simplicity and grace. Everything has been created the way it was meant to be. Though we say nothing is perfect, everything is as it is meant to be, "perfectly flawed".

In all of creation's enormity and in all our endeavors to explore the gifts of God we often overlook the simple rock. The rock is probably among the most amazing creations of God, if not the single most amazing. The rock comes in infinite shapes and sizes and has infinitely more uses.

Rocks are everywhere...from the simple grains of sand on the shore to the tallest mountains in the world in the Himalayas. Rocks do everything for us. The little grains of sand, very soft, you lay on them and you feel such comfort. In the heat you can sit in the shade of a massive boulder, it'll protect you from the sun and give you shade. The rocks we use to build shelter, bricks and gravel mixed with the cement, to give strength to the structures that shield us from all the elements. The rock you sit on to rest when your tired. The rocks you skip across the water for fun. The pebble that's in your shoe that bothers you, telling you something is wrong. The rock you look at because of how beautiful and incredible it is. The rock you lean on for support.

Jesus is my rock. Jesus comforts me. Jesus shelters me. Jesus rejuvenates me, He revives me. Jesus makes me happy. Jesus guides me and directs me. Jesus is my light, my salvation, the beauty of my life. Jesus is my rock.

'For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but My steadfast love shall not depart from you, and My covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you' Isaiah 54:10

Thank you for letting me know that.

Dear God,

Dear God,

It's been a while since I've asked you how you've been, I'm sorry for my selfishness, when we talk its always about me. How are you? I know you've seen a lot of disappointment from my end, but I know you've looked past that because of your loving kindness and mercy. You know I try. I feel small saying that, almost as if its an excuse because I know that no matter how hard I try, I can always do better. My efforts aren't shallow, they're honest and deep, you know that God, but you know that they are far and few. I don't ever mean to disappoint you. Please forgive me.

Lord, I'm weak. You and I are constantly together, many many times I've felt your presence and seen your work in my life. Yet for some reason I still get scared, I lose hope, I lose faith, I get mad and upset, I let my emotions push my mind into thinking I'm alone and it hurts. A lot of things hurt. When I come to you, you take the hurt away, and for some reason when the hurt is gone, I find myself going down the same road again till I hurt. God I don't want to hurt, I don't want to feel weak. I know you're with me all the time, why do I lose myself this way? Is my faith weak? Please help me to strengthen it, please help me to cling to you, please don't let go of me even if for some reason I let go. Please God.

I don't know what to say God, you know what's inside me and I can't even put it into words. If I tried it would just be a long list of emotions that went on forever. Everything from fear, being lost, confusion, pain, alone-ness, loneliness to the complete opposite of peace, safe, serene, hopeful...so many things all inside me and they contradict each other and distress me, I can't explain it but you know it all.

I know you've blessed me with so many blessings and I've grown to take them for granted. I'm sorry, I just become blinded by negativity and darkness, I need you to be my light. Its not that I am ungrateful, but I get caught up in every little thing in my life and I forget that you're there to take care of me.

God I'm so sorry, I squander and waste all the gifts you've given me. I don't know what to do God. You know inside me I try hard. Please God, don't let me go, you've promised. I want to continue feeling you and seeing you more and more in my life. I want to know that you're my father and my best friend, I need you all the time for everything. I truly do. I really miss you.

Love,

fady