Rock On!

 This morning, I was reading Psalm 18. It's one of my favorites, talking about how God brings victory, defeats the enemies, and provides safety. And that's a super general overview!

But what caught my eye in verse 2 was that David said God was his rock - twice. So I grabbed the NASB as it was also nearby. It used rock twice in verse 2, also. I thought it was a little funny for David to state God was his rock twice, and of course, I thought it could be for emphasis. But it wasn't. 

I grabbed my handy-dandy (old-school, I know) Strong's concordance and started digging. In verse 2, the first Hebrew word used for "rock" is sela. In the KJV, the second word for rock is instead strength. It is the Hebrew word, sur. As I dug through the two definitions, they can both be translated into rock. But they really mean two different things. Here is a brief comparison:

• Sur(tsur) refers to a huge boulder or cliff. 
• Sela refers to a cliff or crag. A rock formation that contains clefts or fissures. 

When we break these down into terms we can understand an apply we get this:

• Sur: strength, unshakable.
• Sela: refuge, hiding place, fortress

I think maybe translators were a little lazy when they just translated both terms to rock. Lol. God is indeed our strength. He is huge, strong, something we can stand on and it (He) will always hold us up. 

But he's also our refuge. A place to hide when we need to be unseen. You know those times when emotions get the best of us, and we just need to let it out? He provides the safest place on earth for us to let it all out. It's in the sela (refuge, hiding place) where we may feel the most vulnerable. But that's the place we learn we can trust Him to be our sur (unshakable strength). He's got us covered!

Isn't it amazing that our Rock undergirds us and holds us up; and at the same time provides a place for our soul to hide. He can do both!

Today, I will decide to rock on! I'll remind myself that He is supporting me and giving me the strength to stand. But I'll also remember that He will cover me in life's most vulnerable moments. He won't discount my emotions or feelings, no matter what. He just remains constant and sure. I know I can trust Him to carry me or hide me for one more day - will you join me?

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Affirmations for Caregivers

I wrote Affirmations for Caregivers because it was what I needed to hear! This 31-day journal includes 31 scripturally based affirmations. Each day, the affirmation is followed by a short writing prompt and a verse or two to read. I also have videos on YouTube that coincide with each day's affirmation.