One of my favorite stories using a simple rock as an analogy...

I find it truly amazing—how even when we are small, we migrate one toward another—male and female. God created us this way you know. I watched a fascinating display of our true nature at the park today.

I carried my five-year-old granddaughter by McDonalds to grab a quick lunch then on to the park for a picnic. She was so cute, squirming on the bench in her blue frilly dress. She would eat a French fry, stand up and wiggle. She was up and down.

Finally, she could no longer contain herself and lunged forward excitedly and piped, “Maw maw, can I just go over there and play on that thing?” Since the jungle gym she was so taken with was only a few feet away, I said, “Sure, go ahead, but stay where I can see you.” She was there no time at all when a cute little boy came over to play with her.

As the two of them scrambled from the swings to the slides, then on to the monkey bars—I followed along a few feet behind. I found myself cheering them on at the monkey bars if they could cross the 6 foot section of bars without dropping to the ground—clapping and ooh rahing them along the way! That is what my marine son would be doing if he were here to see them master this feat.

Soon, they were getting hot and tired and I heard Gracie say to Ben, “Let’s go over there by that rock.” She was referring to a huge smooth rock at the rear of the park—a place where there was lots of shade. So, they excitedly ran over to the rock.

Gracie climbed up first and stretched out on the smooth surface. Ben climbed up next and perched himself in a sitting position beside her. They were resting in the coolness of the rock and enjoying the breeze as it gently blew across their tired, worn limbs.

As I stood nearby surveying all of this, I couldn’t help but think about how this is the same way we rest in the solid but gentleness of our rock, our comfort and our best friend ( as Gracie referred to this boy as she merrily ran along behind him).

Jesus is everything to us that this solid rock was to these two small children. Here they were, resting in its comfort, enjoying the closeness of each other as best friends.

It occurred to me too, at that very moment— that this is the same thing Jesus wants for us. When we feel tired and worn, He wants us to come and rest close to Him— to bask in His comfort and His closeness.

Matthew 11:28
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.