Numbers 20:8 (NIV):
Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes, and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.
Psalm 94:22 (NIV)
But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
God gave special significance to the rock when he commanded Moses to strike a rock in the desert and provide water for the Israelites. In many other verses, especially in Psalms, God is addressed as a rock, a firm foundation, and a fortress for safety. According to Bible Gateway, there are 149 references to the word ‘rock’ in both the Old and New Testaments. In many of the references, the rock is a symbol of God. It represents strength, salvation, and comfort against enemies. I never thought much about the significance of rocks until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the world in its tracks and left us isolated from each other.
At that time, Tom and I had just moved to Asbury Place in Maryville, a senior living community. We knew a few people here, and most avenues for connecting were cut off. On top of that, Tom was facing a difficult open-heart surgery in June of 2020. It was an isolated and anxious time. My most frequent activity was long walks around the Asbury campus. Over that period, I began to notice rocks on the edges of walkways that had been painted in bright colors. Often, they had words written on them such as ‘LOVE,’ ‘COURAGE,’ ‘WAIT,’ ‘JESUS LOVES ME,’ ‘HOLD ON,’ ‘SOON,’ ‘PEACE,’ and ‘BE STILL.’ They were painted with happy faces, flowers, animals, and colorful designs, and they were scattered around the Assisted Living facility, as well as lakeside and near the Bistro. All the rocks were smooth and rounded and felt solid in the palm of my hand. I began to search for them as I took my walks, and found comfort in these messages from the isolated people all around me.
Later that year, after Tom recovered from his surgery, we managed a gathering with our children and grandchildren, and I brought a kit with smooth rocks, paints, and design suggestions. We found joy painting rocks together. I arranged them on a platter and they still adorn my living room table. They bring happy memories.
I have since learned that the painted rocks were a worldwide phenomenon. During the pandemic years, trails and parks in California and Calgary were lined with hundreds of painted rocks. A “Kindness Rocks” project that started in 2015 went viral and led to rocks being left in random public places for people to carry home or to another site. The rocks were a quiet way of staying connected with our fellow human beings.
In the Old Testament book of Numbers, God showed love for the Israelites by bringing living water out of a massive rock. The rocks I found during the pandemic years were smaller, but they also reflected God’s love for the human community. In a symbolic way, they brought water to our thirsty souls.
Let us pray:
“Dear Lord, we thank you for your refuge during hard times. We thank you for a solid rock we can hold in our hands and feel your love and protection. You are our rock and our fortress. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
This devotional was written by Laura Derr and read by Judy Wilson.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.
If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.
First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
