The pandemic has brought forth a plethora of new ideas for spending time at home. In my case it has prompted me to find new ways to use the word “plethora.” For others with artistic abilities, small crafts like rock painting have emerged. Think about the beauty of that! You order some paint stuff from Amazon, you go out into your yard, find a rock, and VOILA! Instant stress-relieving fun.

Rock painting has been popular for some time now. At my church, a kind person painted a rock with my name on it as a “gratitude rock.” I think it says something like, “Betsy, you rock.” Every once in a while I spot it on the way into the Fellowship Hall and it makes my heart smile.

Ever contemplate where rocks come from? Smaller rocks have been quarried from larger rocks and have either been deliberately tumbled to create their smooth roundness, or have managed to lose their sharp edges through time and erosion.

Kind of like people.

Isaiah was keenly aware that we have all been quarried from the rock that is our family of God. All of us can trace our lineage back to father Abraham and mother Sarah. God took that rock and has shaped it down over time to resemble us, the children of God.

Isaiah 51 (The Message)

^1-3 “Listen to me, all you who are serious about right living
    and committed to seeking God.
Ponder the rock from which you were cut,
    the quarry from which you were dug.
Yes, ponder Abraham, your father,
    and Sarah, who bore you.
Think of it! One solitary man when I called him,
    but once I blessed him, he multiplied.

Because of Abraham’s faith, we have inherited the right to God’s protection and comfort. This is an extremely important thing right now, as we find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic, national unrest, hurricane season, wildfires, and all other manner of evil.

Likewise I, God, will comfort Zion,
    comfort all her mounds of ruins.
I’ll transform her dead ground into Eden,
    her moonscape into the garden of God,
A place filled with exuberance and laughter,
    thankful voices and melodic songs.

All of those things will come to pass. All of our mounds of ruins will become a garden that rivals Eden. Every dead place will rise up again in the name of Jesus…even the dead places in our pandemic-weary hearts.

We will be filled with exuberance and laughter, and we will SING songs in the sanctuary that are expressions of our thankfulness. I can’t wait for that day! In the meantime, remember: we are one day closer to the end of this thing.

Jesus is our rock, and he will never leave our side.