In a broken, fallen world we all encounter times when life spins out of control.  Injustice happens, doors unexpectedly close, relationships end.  The question isn’t will hard times come, Jesus promises this!  “In this world you will have trouble…” That’s one of His promises not often found on coffee mugs!  

But it’s true.

The question isn’t will storms come into your life, but when.  And when they do, where will you turn?

In Psalm 61, David cries out, “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock.  Lead me to the rock that’s higher than I.” 

What rock is David referring to?  In Isaiah 30:29 the Lord is called The Rock of Israel.  

But what picture comes to mind when you think of that rock?  I will never forget when a friend on Navigator staff asked, do you picture a pebble or the Rock of Gibraltar?

Pebbles don’t provide much protection but the Rock of Gibraltar looms 1400 feet high!

During the Revolutionary War both Spain and France attempted to capture the territory of Gibraltar from the British.  In order to get cannons within firing range to attack enemies, tunnels were dug into the limestone, creating a complex labyrinth!  The allies expanded these tunnels to 25 miles during WWII.  Plus, there are over 150 caves inside the rock.  Are you getting a picture of how secure you can be if you run here for shelter and protection?

But what most captured my attention as I camped out in Psalm 61:2, was how David was asking for someone to lead him to the rock.

In the middle of life’s storms can it ever help to have someone share the journey with us, directing us to the Lord.  I see this repeatedly in transition coaching.  

When people are in pain, feeling confused, isolated, frustrated, hurt, it’s so easy to fixate on what direction to take to make the negative experience end.  And yet the Lord often has key purposes for such seasons in our lives.

Can it ever help us not fixate on escaping the hard, to instead have someone lead us to the Rock so we can not only find true comfort, but in that secure place learn all He wants us to learn and come into better alignment with Him through surrender and in the process be transformed!

This is the main benefit of transition coaching – it helps you reap the full benefits the Lord has for you as you are led to the Rock!

As it says in James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

The Greek word for persevere is transliterated hupomone which means to remain under.  

I don’t know about you, but if I’m going to remain under a storm I think I’d much rather run to and rest in The Rock.  He’s even bigger that the Rock of Gibraltar!