Read Psalm 18, especially verse 2; Proverbs 18:10.

Princess Diana famously dubbed her servant Paul Burrell her ‘rock’. Since her death, history has proven that despite his loyalty to her whilst she lived, even he was flawed. In fact, no human being can ever be our ‘rock’; we are all imperfect, with unsound motives and inconsistent character traits. Sooner or later, we are bound to do something to disappoint, hurt or offend. When we lose our ‘rock’, what do we do?

I was brought up in the West Country and thought I had seen some pretty big rocks – such as those on view in glorious Cheddar Gorge, along with the great boulders of Stonehenge and Avebury Ring. But in 2015 I was introduced to a rock of a completely different proportion: The Rock of Gibraltar. The Rock dominates the tiny isthmus that links the city to mainland Spain. Its huge strategic significance at the gateway to the Mediterranean has meant it has been fought over and disputed for centuries. It became a British Overseas Territory in 1713.

When we lose our ‘rock’, what do we do?

From that time on the British military began to tunnel inside the Rock and during WWII this tunnel network was expanded to such a degree that there are now approximately 33 miles of tunnel inside the Rock of Gibraltar!

My host knew the person who controls all that happens within the Rock and he agreed to take us inside and show us things that are definitely not on the regular tourist route. For example, there are two hospitals, along with military kitchens, and emergency accommodation for up to 22000 people. We were also told of vehicles, planes, missiles, bank vaults and gold bars, all hidden away from plain sight inside the Rock.

The visit had a profound effect on me; especially as I began to compare the significance of what I had seen with what the Bible teaches about the Lord: one of His names is Rock. Prior to my Gibraltar visit I had only seen the Rock as something I might stand on i.e., on the outside. And of course, we can receive enormous strength and encouragement by knowing the security we have in standing firm on Jesus Messiah our Rock.

... we can receive enormous strength and encouragement by knowing the security we have in standing firm on Christ our Rock.

But my visit inside the Rock of Gibraltar showed me a completely different perspective: hidden inside was everything needed for refuge and security in a time of war or upheaval.

If we, during this season where we all face our personal storms, will take the time and make the effort to spiritually tunnel deeper into our relationship with God - to do in the spiritual what the military did in the natural, we will have a deeper understanding of who He really is.

As the strength of the storms we face increases, we will find we can be truly confident and secure in Him. Everything we need has already been provided in Him, Jesus our Rock. Gaining access to Him does not involve a hard or dangerous climb to the top because, like the tunnels in Gibraltar, all the access is on ground level.

All we need to do is walk on in!

Additional reading: Deuteronomy 33:12; Psalms 31:1-3; 61:1-4; 91.

Gaining access to Him does not involve a hard or dangerous climb to the top because, like the tunnels in Gibraltar, all the access is on ground level.

Prayer Time:

Look back at the different types of things that are stored inside the Rock of Gibraltar.

• Do any of these speak to you of other names of God?
• Can you find any scriptures where He gives Himself that name?
• How have these insights affected your perspective on God’s loving kindness, faithfulness and care of you?
• What does this say to you about any other ‘rock’ you may have been trusting in?
• Does He seem bigger now?

Spend some time talking to Him about all He has shown you today.

Other devotionals in this series can be accessed here.