“Building Up the Body: Worker-to-Worker” is a series of church worker wellness devotions. Visit lcms.org/wellness for more resources.
By Mary Moerbe, Lutheran author and pastor’s wife
A rock and a hard place
“Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.” (Gen. 28:10–11)
Jacob laid his head on a rock for a pillow, and sometimes we feel like we’re metaphorically sleeping on rocks all over the place.
We lie down to rest in tough places. We may be struggling to climb up to heaven, or we may just be fleeing from the troubles of this world.
Still, this life and this world is a rock and a hard place!
Our discomfort and tension may not have a physical origin, but it still has physical repercussions.
It affects our sleep, our caffeine intake, our diet, and our movements. It can add distance and strain to our relationships and goals.
Still, there is very good news for us.
We can’t climb into heaven — we know that, but even better is knowing that our God comes down to us.
He sends His angels and His servants, even when we cannot see or feel them.
He supports us through prayers spoken around the world and at His very right hand.
He sends His Son and His Spirit to be our peace, whether felt or not.
Our God may let us use rocks as a pillow, but we may still rest in Him.
He equips us with Scripture to let us cry out — and even vent.
He comes to us wherever we are, in body or soul, to show us the Way, the Truth and the Life.
He keeps His eye and His Spirit upon us so that He can keep His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; to each one of us; and, foremost, to His Son who died for us.
We need our rest even when sleep is fleeting.
Thanks be to God that He volunteers Himself to us despite the great dangers and trials in this world!
He who slumbers not nor sleeps is Himself our rest and our Sabbath.
Heavenly Father, thank You for descending into this world. Thank You for all You use as a ladder to comfort me. Have mercy on me and my loved ones, in the name of Your one and only Son, Jesus. Amen.
Mary Jackquelyn Moerbe is an LCMS deaconess, writer, speaker, and homeschooler. She and her husband, Rev. Ned A. Moerbe, have six children and live in Oklahoma.
“Building Up the Body: Worker-to-Worker” devotions and prayers will be released Monday mornings on the LCMS Facebook and Twitter pages. Church Worker Wellness devotions will also be archived online.
LCMS church workers and their families are invited to offer encouragement to other workers and families by submitting a 500-word devotion for the Synod’s worker-to-worker wellness devotion series. Email questions and submissions to workerwellness@lcms.org.