In the physical realm, solid rock is known to be an impenetrable, unmovable mass that offers safety and security. Throughout history, rock walls have offered refuge from the danger of attack; soldiers in wartime hid behind them to shield themselves from the enemy. As people with an inherent need to feel safe from real or imagined threats, we need spiritual rock walls to hide behind when life gets to be too much. We find this protection in God.

Trouble can pop up at any time. Trying to deal with it on our own opens us up to making poor decisions that make bad situations even worse. When David was fleeing for his life from King Saul, he acknowledged the safety and protection that comes only from God. David was in great danger, yet he didn’t trust in his own might to preserve his life. “For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places” (2 Samuel 22:32-34).

Often, our level of fear and anxiety is tied to how vulnerable and unsafe we feel. The world around us can be a dangerous place; contemplating what could happen in worst-case scenarios actually increases our feelings of insecurity. This isn’t what God wants for us. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Trusting in Him to keep us safe calms and quiets our minds, and makes us aware of His powerful love for us.

God’s will is for us to live a quiet, peaceful life. When danger gets too close, we’re able to take refuge in Him. Having faith in His promise to protect us allows us to go about our daily routine in peace. “Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces” (Psalm 122:7). To prosper is to have success on every level, including in our minds; we can’t truly prosper until we have the peace of mind that only comes from God.

If we rely on our own limited knowledge to always make the right choices, we can be unpleasantly surprised to learn how quickly things can go wrong. We can get so caught up in a situation that we feel overwhelmed. There will always be times when we need help from someone stronger and more powerful than ourselves. “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy” (Psalm 61:2, 3). God is our rock wall; He provides shelter, stability, and traction when we need to recover from disaster.

Life has a way of crushing and breaking down people who trust only in themselves instead of in God. It’s a mistake to think that we’ll never encounter an issue so frightful and overwhelming that we want to run and hide. We can take courage knowing that we have deliverance from all evil. “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah” (Psalm 32:7). When our strength is spent and we feel powerless and scared, God gives us courage and hope.