Lead Me to the Rock that is Higher Than I

By Cammie Easley, LPC, MHSP-S, Director of Child & Adolescent Services

Whenever I am walking through a season of tribulation or suffering, it is EASY for my prayers to quickly become: “Lord, make the suffering stop.” It’s as if I lose perspective in the haze of suffering and all I know is “I want out”. My prayers become me focused, present and result oriented, and comfort driven. That’s my innate, honest response to suffering.

The other day, I was driving in the car listening to a worship song and it was as if God opened up my eyes to see that He does NOT respond to suffering in such a way. The song was “Abandoned” by Benjamin William Hastings, and one of the verses stated:

“I just can't get over it
What kind of self-control is this?
When You had angels at Your fingertips
But on the Cross You remained, yeah
And I can't repay that kind of love
But I can praise with everything I've got
Since death had all of it's power robbed
Then just like the grave…”

It struck me that, on the cross, Jesus could have made His suffering stop at any time - suffering He didn’t deserve. He had all of the power in the world and angels at His beck and call. And yet, He stayed. He remained on the cross. He finished what He was called to do to save us. He endured suffering “for the joy set before Him.” In His humanity He genuinely prayed, “Lord, if it’s possible, let’s this cup pass from me.” But, He concluded that sentiment by stating, “But, not my will but Yours be done.” (Matthew 26:39).

His response was quite different from my own. As I surveyed the chasm between His response and mine, I noticed:

Me: focused on myself.

Him: focused on the Father.

Me: focused on the present.

Him: focused on what was being accomplished for eternity.

Me: focused on relief.

Him: focused on saving me and you even when it cost Him His life.

Me: driven by my comfort.

Him: driven by trust in the Father.

It’s humbling to note these differences. And it led me to desire a better way to pray through suffering for myself and others. I began to ask the Lord, “What can I pray in those moments of intense struggle?” As I continued to drive and pray, a phrase started coming to mind repeatedly: “lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”  I knew I had memorized this passage before, so when I returned home, I looked it up and, in context, it reads:

“Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
 For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.”

Psalm 61:1-3

As I contemplated this concept of God taking us higher, I researched other references to God leading us to higher ground. A few reasons for higher ground surfaced:

It gives us clearer vision.

When the Lord takes us to higher ground, we see things more from His perspective, His eternal perspective, and we are not so caught up in the cloudiness of present suffering. Like the eagle when storms move in, we need to soar upward and not spiral down with the wind and the rain.

It gives us protection.

In war, those on the high ground have the advantage. They can see the schemes of their enemy down below and they are safe from threat. They are in a place of refuge and shelter. (Psalm 27:5)

It gives us intimacy with the Lord.

When we turn to Him for His perspective, when we lean hard into the Rock that is higher and stronger than we are; when we admit we can’t do it alone; and when we are dependent on His Spirit in us to get us through, we gain an intimacy with Him that is not forged in fair weather. We know Him better as we share in His sufferings. And we experience Him to greater depths as we find shelter in Him and not in our circumstances.

If you find yourself in a season of suffering today, I pray that He will “lead you to the rock that is higher than you are.” And, if you need support along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

Meet Cammie Easley, LPC-MHSP, Director of Child & Adolescent Services!

Cammie graduated with her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in May of 2014 from Denver Seminary in Denver, CO.

Throughout her career as a counselor, Cammie has been passionate about helping individuals of all ages overcome anxiety and depression, heal from past traumas, process their own grief, and develop into the healthy and whole people that God designed them to be.

She believes firmly that seasons of hardship are God’s tool which He uses to make us more like Himself and to reveal Himself to us in ways that we would not otherwise come to intimately know. One of her greatest joys in counseling is helping individuals figure out how they can heal in a holistic way that incorporates their body, mind, and spirit.