Devotion #1: Rocks Cry Out

Cathy Story

How do you respond to the loss of something or someone that means a lot to you? Think about it for a moment. Reasonably your response to that question will likely differ based on what came to your mind. We can certainly feel disappointment or sadness at the loss of favorite items like a broken vase that had been passed down from family members, or the falling apart of a childhood stuffed animal. The depth of our emotions may increase with the importance of the loss. We may feel especially sad and grieved at the loss of a family pet or a family friend. We may be completely heartbroken over the loss of family members and those friends who have become like family to us. Chances are you demonstrate your feelings of sadness, hurt, and disappointment in some way. It may be a sigh, grunt, scream, or a complete breakdown of ugly crying. We have all been there. It is only natural to respond with our emotions.

As we continue looking at miracles of the cross, Matthew 27:51 tells us, “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” Looking at these verses we can marvel at the fact that in the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross, even creation itself responded. It could be easy to overlook the miracle that took place at this moment in Scripture. As this moment at the cross unfolds and we have seen darkness fall and the tearing of the veil, Scripture allows us to see the response of God’s creation. At a time when many were not in a moment of grieving what was happening, creation itself grieved, “The earth shook and the rocks were split.” In Luke 19:40, we read, “He [Jesus] answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’” In Psalm 24:1, we are told, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

A popular song, “Holy (Song of the Ages)” by the Belonging Co., has a line that declares:

Even the rocks cry out, so I’ll cry out

Heaven and earth will sing, so I’ll sing

I am not sure about you, but I would prefer to not let a rock praise the Lord before I do. While there are many things in creation that shout and show us the immense glory of the God we believe in, I choose to be the one who will shout out His praise. I hope you will choose to join along in praising Him today.