SPEAK TO THE ROCK 🪨

We are in a stretching season. Can you feel it?

God is pushing many of us out of our boxes, bubbles, and comfortable social circles. Even after many months, even years, of wandering in the wilderness, God is again searching hearts and minds to find those who are fully committed to him.

The test right now is this: Will we continue to obey his directions, even if they go against our own understanding, feelings, or marching orders from former seasons now expired?

We need fresh strategies from heaven for this new season...

This week I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Speak to the rock." In the moment, I wasn't exactly sure what he meant.

Of course, I thought of Moses in the wilderness. In response to the complaints of the parched people, God tells Moses to "strike the rock" with his staff. Sure enough, water gushes out. Despite Israel's quarreling and questioning of God's goodness, Yahweh provides in abundance.

Fast forward 40 years, and a familiar situation arises. The people are thirsty and take it out on Moses and Aaron. This time, God tells Moses to take his staff and "speak to the rock." Simple enough. And yet, here's how the prophet responds:

Frustrated and angry, Moses spoke to the people instead of the rock, giving those rebels a piece of his mind. He vented and exalted his own self and strength, times two, instead of listening to Yahweh, whose very voice is a force.

Moses was a powerful (and imperfect) man of God who faithfully led an entire nation out of 430 years of bondage and through four decades of wilderness wanderings. That's a tough, thankless job.

Greatly grieved, God gave his verdict: "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" (Numbers 20:12 NIV).

This is a hard lesson. May we all listen and learn. This new season of life and leadership will require another level of consecration and focus. It's a life-laid-down mindset and an obedience-at-any-cost posture.

Hear the Holy Spirit saying, "Speak to the rock."

We cannot accomplish anything apart from Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, the foundation, and rock of our salvation. We have open access, because of his strike-stripes and blood sacrifice, to enter his presence with confidence, receiving right-now revelation and help for our every need.

Jesus is an unending well of living water. Seek him first and only. Eat the word. Pray the word. Praise and worship him. Receive a revelation of Jesus Christ, the son of the living God. Ask him for a glimpse of his weighty glory. Cultivate a face-to-face friendship. Trust his intentions and obey his directions. He gives the Holy Spirit without limit.

For all those who are willing, there's a window of grace for greater voice activation, public declaration and demonstration, and deeper trust and abandonment to the great I AM. He is stretching and testing to see who he can entrust to rebuild desolate cities and impact nations with the gospel of the kingdom. May we build not by human might, but by his mighty Spirit.

I bless you to be stretched, to speak and to lead, standing firm on the rock,

Chelsea

P.S. You're invited! Mark your calendars for the following events:

Worthy Words Co. will be a vendor at the 2025 Night Market on Friday, June 6, 5:00-9:00 PM.

We're popping up at Stories Coffee in Gretna on Saturday, June 21, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Coffee and books ... what could be better?!

I'm also teaching a Selah women's group this summer! We're meeting monthly, June through August, at a home in Fort Calhoun — only 25 minutes from Omaha.

We'll be learning about the spiritual seasons that correspond to the natural seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter. Our desire is to create a space for you to discover your spiritual season, cultivate intimacy with Jesus, and let Him shepherd your soul.

Interested? Questions? Reach out any time or simply reply to this email.