Between a rock and a hard place
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 by Marie
We all have used or heard this idiom at some point our lives, most likely. I began searching the history behind the saying, but came back empty handed. I did however find a good explanation on a Google search.
To say that one is stuck "between a rock and a hard place" stresses that there are two forces which are restricting one's movement. Often it is the opposite direction of these forces that causes the sticking point. One is unable for some particular reason to do something that one would like to do, such as act or not act in a certain way. "I'd like to help you but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place." To have someone between a rock and a hard place is to have them in a position that causes them to make a choice that they don't want to make. "You've got me between a rock and a hard place; I'll sell it to you at the price you quoted."
Have you ever felt like that? If you haven't - if I may be so bold - you are lying.
I think we can feel we are stuck between opposing forces in relationships, work and even our walk with the Lord.
I woke up this morning feeling like I was between that rock and a hard place. My day has drifted along and I am still stuck, feet wedged between the same rocks. I truly believe the enemy uses the same "rocks" to keep us from growing in relationships we have, and more importantly "rocks" and "hard places" keep us from growing spiritually.
On my way home from work I popped in Casting Crowns newest CD "The Alter and the Door." I always forget how much I relate with the lyrics. It always seems that I put it in just when I need to hear those (sometimes hard) words the most. If I could post the lyrics for the song that speaks to me most on this album, I would probably just post every single song. The transparency of the songwriters astounds me, and makes me want to be more like that. I mean, if a widely-known Christian group can lay all their spiritual insecurities and struggles for all who hear their music, surely I can do the same with the small number of people I know.
As Christians we never stop growing and learning. But I sometimes slack on my growth with the Lord...I get on fire, and then some of the flames are extinguished. I always feel I am somewhere in the middle with my walk. I want to trust him completely, but I want to hold onto a couple of strings so I feel that I'm still in control. I want to place all my faith in him, but I also want to fend for myself because he might not do what I want, when I want it.
The seventh track (funny, 7 is the Biblical number of perfection...) is the song that inspired this post:
"Somewhere in the Middle"
By Casting Crowns
Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control?
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle
Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control?
Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle
It's always reassuring for me to think that God loves me no matter what. His love is unconditional. True agape love. It never changes. In Matthew 22, Jesus shares what the "greatest commandment" is with the Pharisees. In it the word Jesus uses for "love" is actually translated from the Greek word agape.
Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV)
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love (agape) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love (agape) your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Praise Jesus for his agape love.
To say that one is stuck "between a rock and a hard place" stresses that there are two forces which are restricting one's movement. Often it is the opposite direction of these forces that causes the sticking point. One is unable for some particular reason to do something that one would like to do, such as act or not act in a certain way. "I'd like to help you but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place." To have someone between a rock and a hard place is to have them in a position that causes them to make a choice that they don't want to make. "You've got me between a rock and a hard place; I'll sell it to you at the price you quoted."
Have you ever felt like that? If you haven't - if I may be so bold - you are lying.
I think we can feel we are stuck between opposing forces in relationships, work and even our walk with the Lord.
I woke up this morning feeling like I was between that rock and a hard place. My day has drifted along and I am still stuck, feet wedged between the same rocks. I truly believe the enemy uses the same "rocks" to keep us from growing in relationships we have, and more importantly "rocks" and "hard places" keep us from growing spiritually.
On my way home from work I popped in Casting Crowns newest CD "The Alter and the Door." I always forget how much I relate with the lyrics. It always seems that I put it in just when I need to hear those (sometimes hard) words the most. If I could post the lyrics for the song that speaks to me most on this album, I would probably just post every single song. The transparency of the songwriters astounds me, and makes me want to be more like that. I mean, if a widely-known Christian group can lay all their spiritual insecurities and struggles for all who hear their music, surely I can do the same with the small number of people I know.
As Christians we never stop growing and learning. But I sometimes slack on my growth with the Lord...I get on fire, and then some of the flames are extinguished. I always feel I am somewhere in the middle with my walk. I want to trust him completely, but I want to hold onto a couple of strings so I feel that I'm still in control. I want to place all my faith in him, but I also want to fend for myself because he might not do what I want, when I want it.
The seventh track (funny, 7 is the Biblical number of perfection...) is the song that inspired this post:
"Somewhere in the Middle"
By Casting Crowns
Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control?
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle
Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control?
Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle
It's always reassuring for me to think that God loves me no matter what. His love is unconditional. True agape love. It never changes. In Matthew 22, Jesus shares what the "greatest commandment" is with the Pharisees. In it the word Jesus uses for "love" is actually translated from the Greek word agape.
Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV)
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love (agape) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love (agape) your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Praise Jesus for his agape love.
It comes from Homer's Odyssey, Marie. Scylla and Charybdis were two monsters, one either side of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Italy. Odysseus had to pass between them. Scylla was multi-headed, lived on a rock and reached out grabbing sailors and smashing their ships. Charybdis lived at the e bottom of the sea, sucked in huge quantities of water creating whirlpools that dragged sailors into its depths. Hence, he had to pass between a rock and a hard place.
It comes from Homer's Odyssey, Marie. Scylla and Charybdis were two monsters, one either side of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Italy. Odysseus had to pass between them. Scylla was multi-headed, lived on a rock and reached out grabbing sailors and smashing their ships. Charybdis lived at the bottom of the sea, sucked in huge quantities of water creating whirlpools that dragged sailors into its depths. Hence, he had to pass between a rock and a hard place.
At least that's the way I remember it!
What was it here that you were feeling stuck in the middle of? I have been and sometimes still feel in that place of being stuck between a rock and hard place.