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(Excerpt by Carol Kent, from her book Between a Rock and a Grace Place: Divine Surprises in the Tight Spots of Life.)
Feeling Stuck in a Hard Place
It has now been more than a decade ago, right in the middle of my life, that I ran into a huge boulder — the likes of which I had never encountered on my lifelong walk with God. It could have been my stopping place — the point at which I lost not only some of my most cherished dreams but also my faith, my joy, my purpose, and my passion to go on. Instead, I found out that the Rock in my path represented not an obstacle but an opportunity to encounter the living God in surprising, sometimes astonishing ways.
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God continues to transform my hard places into grace places. |
As I have learned to press into the Rock in the middle of my hard places, I have discovered that I am actually in a position of safety, refuge, and grace. Year after year, God continues to transform my hard places into grace places where I discover surprising gifts of faith, mercy, contentment, praise, blessing, freedom, laughter, and adventure...
[Maybe] you feel caught in one of those tight spots of life where the experience you are facing is difficult, if not unbearable. I pray that you will come to realize that the pain of being in this place need not cause you to lose hope. On the contrary, being "stuck" between a rock and a hard place can lead to a transforming and liberating encounter with the only true Rock — God himself.
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'Careful! I've put a huge stone on the road to Mount Zion, a stone you can't get around. But the stone is me! If you're looking for me, you'll find me on the way, not in the way.' Romans 9:33 MSG; see NIV |
If you press into the Rock instead of trying to get around it, you will discover a surprise far better than a Christmas gift specially delivered to your doorstep. On the road that is your life right now, you can find a new way of thinking about your circumstances, as well as an astonishing experience of grace, tailor-made just for you. As you encounter God "on" the way, not "in" the way, you may come to know him as you never have before...
The Liberating Truth
"See, I lay in Zion a stone that makes people stumble..." Photo by Esculapio. Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania, 1996.
Every day is an opportunity to unwrap [more of] God's grace. In my own hardest places I have encountered the kind of grace that enables me to praise God for eyes to see the pain of others, a heart of compassion to respond, and a determination to provide tangible help to those who are caught between a rock and a hard place of their own. I am discovering that God works best through broken people who know they do not have all the answers. He can use people who have exhausted their own resources and finally realize that negotiating the tight spots of life is not something they do by themselves...
The most important question, however, is: How will you respond to your circumstances? Will you withdraw from your friends and family members? Will you "ease" your way out of situations in which you hear people talk about issues of hope and faith? Or will you remain open to divine surprises in the tight spots of your life?
-Carol Kent
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Learn more about Between a Rock and a Grace Place.
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- Adam Forrest, Zondervan
(Images & some styling above are web-exclusive features not included in the text of Between a Rock... This post does not represent the views of Zondervan or any of its representatives. The writer's personal opinions are shared only for information purposes. To receive new Zondervan Blog posts in your reader or email inbox, subscribe to Zondervan Blog.)
I am presently experiencing a huge rock in my spiritual path. I have six compression fractures to my spine which have caused me to lose 5 inches in height, and I have developed severe kyphosis to my spine. I also suffered two heart attacks last May 2011. In addition, I have a metal plate to my right foot, and with osteoporosis, it is a cause for constant pain.
I was baptized 18 years ago. However, I had drifted away from my spiritual journey. What I am experiencing now has brought me back to the Lord. Although I am suffering, I feel I am closer to God than I have ever been. My daily Bible readings are giving me new understanding as to why the Lord works in mysterious ways. I now leave everything in my life to God. It is now longer just me. It is whatever the Lord decides for my life. And, believe it or not, I am happy again!
Mr. Radames Aviles
Brawley, California
Posted by: Radames Aviles | February 03, 2012 at 03:01 PM
Wow, thank you so much for sharing your story.
"Although I am suffering, I feel I am closer to God than I have ever been... And believe it or not, I am happy again!" I do believe it, and I am thankful for all of the good news that God continues to unveil in your life. Blessings,
-Adam
Posted by: Adam Forrest | February 03, 2012 at 03:06 PM