Between a rock and a hard place

By Peggy Norton

Don't let the title scare you. You know very well what that's like. At least, you do if you're human. Many a time we find ourselves literally hemmed in without any means of escape from a situation. Sometimes it's our own doing. (ok, a lot of the time) and other times people and events beyond our control bring about this scenario. So, what do you do when you're faced with this reality?

Here's a multiple choice for you to choose from. If in doubt....guess.

A) Let the enemy convince you that God is sick and tired of hearing
from you only when you're in this situation.
B) Wring your hands in hopelessness, and say repeatedly, I'm not
going to make it...I'm not going to make it...
C) Pull up your "boot straps" lift up your head high (be careful not to hit you head)
and refuse to acknowledge that anything is wrong.
D) Be real about how you feel and call out in sincerity to Jesus, who is a very real
help in time of trouble.

About the Author

Peggy Norton has been married to her husband, Edward, who is a minister, for over 26 years. They are the parents of 6 children and have 2 grandsons and one on the way.

They are currently between churches and are attending Faith Tabernacle in Burton, Michigan. Peggy is a storyteller, writes children's stories, Bible teacher, Women's speaker and works part-time outside of the home.

Peggy is currently involved in orchestrating a Children's Crusade to take place in the Ukraine sometime next summer. Many children there are homeless and there are no government institutions to help the children. She is working with Destiny Ministries and Save the Children Ministries.

I like what the Shulamite in the Song of Solomon says in chapter
2: verse 14, (NKJV) "O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the
secret places of the cliff, let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely."

It is usually in that place of seclusion of having no props, no rallying friends or sympathetic comforters, that we finally lay hold of just how precious is indeed the very presence and love of Jesus. In other words, in our complete helplessness, we realize how altogether lovely and desirous the Lord truly is, and we marvel at his love, grace and mercy towards us. That he really is mainly concerned with developing a relationship with us more than anything else.

God has always looked for a people to call his own, and that would also call God their own.

Let's look at two examples of men in the Bible who were caught between a rock and a hard place, (the cleft of the rock.)

See Moses, standing on the mountain, interceding with the Lord on behalf of a rebellious and stiff-necked people. He also realizes that he too is in need of change. A consuming revelation of his need for God and His ways to be established in his own life, creates a cry that was greater then the seriousness of the problem at the moment. Let's listen into the conversation he has with God.

(MOSES) "Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people."
(GOD) "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

(MOSES) "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth."

(GOD) "I will do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name."

(MOSES) "Please, show me Your glory."

(GOD) "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But, you cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live. Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."

Wow! Look what coming to the extremity of his situation and the realization that his only hope is in God, brought about; a genuine cry for the reality of knowing God. And what a revelation he had! (Interesting what a potential lynch mob can cause.)

Then there's Elijah. What a valiant man of God. What an awesome victory was wrought for the Kingdom of God through his daring obedience to God. Fire fell from Heaven and consumed a heavily water drenched sacrifice, denoting that Jehovah God is the rightful God of all the earth and especially of Israel. Imagine the supernatural strength imparted to Elijah as he slew 400 prophets of Baal with a sword. (Think about that one.)

All of Israel that day bowed before the Lord God in submission to his authority and Godhead. Chalk a big one up for God and Elijah. But it says in I Kings 19:2, "Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them (her dead prophets) by tomorrow about this time." So Elijah did what most of us would do in that situation, after having just participated in an awesome display of God's reality. He "hit the road" and ran for his life.