Not the Place of Happy Endings but There is The Rock!

This post is going to seem like one of those John Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress posts and that is because as I dreamed last night, God showed me something absolutely amazing.  Lately I have been going through a hard time, and the truth is that most people have. As I lay in my bed last night after talking to God, I had a dream.  In the dream I was helping somebody remove pests from the land.  After a while the scene switched and I was on my own.  As I watched "myself" I noticed that a lot of people that were nearest and dearest dying or being taken away. The scenes were gruesome and I began to wonder if God was really there.  When all of the sudden there was a thought in my head that said: "God is not into making sure that we have the most rosie life.  He is into building our characters.  Life is made up of stages and their purpose is to help us perfect a Christ-like character.  There are going to be stages in life that are enjoyable and pleasant and then there are going to be those stages that are not so pleasant and in fact even terrible and horrible, but in all of them God is working His greater purpose."  Losses that we all face at different times only remind us that this is not our home.  That we are not there yet!  As the dream continued the scene switched to me trying to find a job and being unable to.  My wife and kids and I were out of a job and out of money, when we ended up at this house that was built completely in Solid Rock.  Once inside the house we didn't worry about being hurt, or attacked.  The Rock afforded protection from the storm, and the people dwelling there were nice.  Incidently they were Spanish!  That was totally awesome."  The Rock was a place where no one could find us.  There we found security, and got to know many wonderful people.  Finally we were able to see other things going on around us, but didn't care.  We had a home in the Rock that was safe and secure."

These two dreams that I had last night say something to me very special.

1.  God is not always in the business of our comfort here on earth, but rather in the building of our characters through the things of life.  He wants us to learn that we can trust Him in any situation because He is working out our ultimate good.  No matter how painful the situation God has a better purpose for good in it!  In Heaven, all of the loved ones we have lost who died in the Rock we will see again, and once we reach the finish line, our characters will have been molded to the point where we are able to live with Jesus in Eternity.  We will have the whole story.
2.  God is our Rock, we can go to Him any time we are discouraged or don't understand what is going on.  He is our place of safety, where we can learn and grow, and experience His love.
3.  The people that are in the Rock are also growing and experiencing His Love.  We are all in the Rock together so we should do the best to make sure that it is a safe environment.
4.  The Rock may not afford the best this earth has to offer, but He is Home!  He is Base.  He is a Safe Place.

There is a verse in the Bible that comes to mind when I think of these dreams and that is: Psalms

" 5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.  6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.  7 In God ismy salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.  8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. 9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degreeare a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighterthan vanity.^*n5  10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.  11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.^*n6  12 Also unto thee, O Lord,belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work."