Abide Upon the Rock: Jesus Is Our Safety, Strength, and Sufficiency

When the Lord is our Father and our very good Master, we remain equipped for every good work – in all circumstances, in all of life. Nothing befalls us that has not sifted through His all powerful Hands. There is no need to fear as perfect love casts out all our fears as we fix our eyes upon Jesus. Scripture also tells us in Psalms 46:1-3 (NIV): “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah. He is in control and He is always in control even if we cannot understand.

We need not fear rather we are to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith and He is our ever-present help in our times of need. What He calls us to do, what He allows us to walk through, He strengthens and equips us for things simply “too hard” for us to do. He carries us on wings like eagles. And He controls the intensity of the heat, the suffering, the pain. Further, He is ever with us through it all and there is purpose in the pain. His grace being fully sufficient to meet our every need. That does not mean we do not feel temptation, pain, sickness, sorrow, loss or even desertion. When we weep, He, too, weeps. And we face these enemies of our souls knowing that He is there with us, that He is in control and that He will carry us through, whatever He calls us to walk through. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NIV): “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” Indeed, God wants His children to stand and He is faithful and able to cause us to stand. John writes is 1 John 4:4 (NIV): “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” Hallelujah to that!

Reliance upon God through the power of the spirit is the key to walking through our trials and temptations. We lean upon His Almighty Arm – resting secure between His shoulders. He is never taken by surprise and whatever He allows in the lives of His heirs of mercy are somehow, someway, going to be used for our good and for His glory. Remember as well, earth is not our home. Heaven is. And He has gone before us to prepare a place for us. Further, He has given us everything we need to walk in righteousness and godliness. Everything. Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV): “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” When our faith reaches up, heaven responds. We are to rest in reliance on the mighty Arm of the invisible God. No anxiety because we cast our cares upon Him. We have an abiding place on the Rock of Ages.