Hey Girl: A 5-Day Devotional by Anne WilsonSmakprov

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I Stand

Rocks have always held a secret kind of majesty for me. As a child, I watched my brother’s collection grow as he treated each one as his treasure. One Christmas, he got a set of rocks and gemstones, and I marveled at their uniquely designed beauty. It seems there are lessons to learn about the natural world and the hidden beauty the Lord places in seemingly ordinary things.

I believe the Lord uses the natural world to inspire us to long for Him. Think about the world we are all first introduced to—the one in which rocks are magical, and nothing tastes better than wild summer blackberries; the one where stomping in rain puddles is fun and blowing on dandelion weeds for wishes brings us unmeasured joy. As we grow up, we sometimes turn from appreciating beauty in the world to accepting what the world says is beautiful. Suddenly, we wish our hair were curly instead of straight, or we were two inches taller or 10 pounds lighter. When this happens, we become less satisfied with the face staring back in the mirror…and it seems something steals our smile.

Maybe our Rock and our Redeemer made rocks to tell us an incredible story - not only of perseverance but of breathtaking beauty. Do yourself a favor and if you can’t look at rocks through a microscope, look up pictures of magnified rocks online. Some of them are more incredible than stained glass windows…and yet their beauty is often overlooked and undervalued. However, the Lord has always seen their beauty and says they cry out to Him in worship.

Girls, maybe we have more in common with rocks than we realize. Perhaps we have a season where we feel trampled upon or where we feel like we’ve been weathered in a storm or two. But one thing is certain…even on the days it feels hidden away, we are made incredibly beautiful because we are made in the image of The Rock, the One who makes all things beautiful.

Today, praise the Lord who not only made you for a purpose but Who has made you even more beautiful than the rocks.

Scripture to Meditate On:

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalm 18:1-2

Reflective Questions:

• What is something in the natural world that you would like to observe more closely in order to give our Creator praise for the beauty of His amazing designs?
• Are you more attracted by flashy gems or enamored by the secret beauty of everyday rocks? Which would you rather be and why?
• What is something beautiful that God has given you?
• Name one thing you think is beautiful about you :)

Prayer:

Dearest Most High, Thank you that you stooped low to bend down to our humanity and show us your unfailing love. You are incredibly lavish with that love and delight us daily with brilliant sunrises, colorful wildflower bouquets, and glittering star-studded skies. But you also show us through rocks…both the majestic Grand Canyon kinds and the more everyday pieces that line our driveways or well-worn roads. Amazingly, You have tucked beauty in the most surprising of places, including me, Jesus. I thank you for the beauty You have given me, and if I get to be a rock in Your kingdom, may I cry out to you and point people to You, The Highest Rock on which we all stand. It is in Jesus’ name we pray…Amen!