Written by Tanisha Taylor, Financial & Life Coach
Tanisha Taylor is an inspirational leader in financial, life, and ministry wellness. Her journey, sparked by a childhood money encounter with her grandfather, has led her to a profound understanding of the impact of money on individuals' lives.
Rocks and stones are significant symbols in the Bible, often representing strength, stability, protection, and faith. These elements are used literally and metaphorically throughout the Bible.
Rocks and stones serve as powerful symbols of
God's character (strength, refuge, and provision)
Jesus' role as the cornerstone of faith
Believers' identity as living stones in God's kingdom
Reminders of faith, judgment, and transformation
These meanings inspire reflection on God's reliability and call for believers to build their lives on the unshakable foundation of faith.
As the year comes to a close, I wanted to present the voice of an upcoming author, Wanda Johnson, as she begins her journey with her new book, which is coming soon. Wanda Robinson shares her heart with her interpretations of clichés.
I am Wanda Robinson, and I want to share a part of the story that I wrote. A cliché is a French term that means to produce or print a stereotype. It can also mean trite phrases or opinions that are overused and betray a lack of original thought. To name a few: It's not over until the fat lady sings. I have a trick up my sleeve: read between the lines, better safe than sorry, play your cards right, a fish out the Water, a stone's throw away, haste makes waste, a diamond in the rough. Actions speak louder than words; the grass is always greener on the other side, and a closed mouth doesn't get fed.
My mother told me, "A hard head makes a soft behind, and all closed eyes ain't sleep." Do you have a favorite cliché or one that has stayed with you for a lifetime? Due to a traumatic experience in third grade, I have always had a disdain for one particular cliché: "Dumb as a box of rocks." My teacher weaponized this phrase against me after asking me a question I couldn’t answer. She used it to dim my light and make me feel incapable of achievement.
I took her statement exceptionally personally. The sound of the children's laughter filled the classroom. The little girl in me felt paralyzed and defeated, especially since I was such an impressionable child. Instead of guiding me to the answer as a teacher should, she took the time to humiliate and embarrass me in front of the entire class.
In that moment, my teacher became a vessel for the enemy to attack my self-esteem, destroying my confidence and making me feel less than everyone else. If she had understood Proverbs 18:21—which states, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof"—she would have realized how detrimental such a phrase could be to a growing child.
Unfortunately, this experience affected me for years to come.As I have grown up and developed spiritually, God has placed it on my heart to debunk this rock cliché and explain how remarkable rocks are to Him.
Exhibit A: Comfort and rest
In the book of Genesis, Jacob laid his head on a stone to sleep. God gave Jacob a dream of a ladder reaching heaven, and he saw angels ascending and descending. Then the Lord spoke to Jacob. Eventually, Jacob took the stone that was once his pillow, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on the rock.
Exhibit B: Weapon of warfare
According to 1 Samuel 17, David used his rocks to protect himself in battle. He selected five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his pouch. He placed one smooth stone in his sling and killed Goliath, the giant Philistine. That smooth stone became a weapon of mass destruction.
Exhibit C: Possibilities of truth
In Luke 19:14, Jesus told the Pharisees, "If the disciples rebuke me, and the stones will cry out if they keep quiet." Jesus' truth is so powerful and mighty that not even a rock can contain itself; it will cry out and prove His greatness.
Exhibit D: Judgment and consequences
The symbol to teach wisdom in the book of Proverbs, chapter 26, verse 27, says, "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them."
Exhibit E: Miraculous provision
In Exodus 31, God told Moses to chisel out two stone tablets, and God used His finger to write the Ten Commandments. Those tablets were an ascribed oracle. God also told Moses to speak to the rock before their eyes, and the rock would bring forth water for the people to drink. Instead, Moses struck the rock. The rock understood God's assignment by becoming a fountain for His people.
Exhibit F: Strength and stability
Exodus also states that if Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning; but when he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. Then Aaron and Hur placed a stone under Moses for him to sit on when he grew tired. After the battle, Moses built an altar and called it The Lord Is My Banner. That stone became a solid foundation of victory.
Exhibit G: Jesus as the rock
Simon's name is Peter, meaning rock. 1 Peter 2:4–6 says, "As you come to him, the Living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—like living stones, you are also being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." For Scripture says, "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame."
Exhibit H: God's provision
A flint rock and steel rubbed together can create fire. Rocks can deliver light, provide warmth, and produce enough heat to cook.
Exhibit I: Memorials and testimonies
A fossil's impressions on a rock keep a record of history and evidence of journeys lived. Those rocks are historians that display historical events.
Exhibit J: Remembrance and respect
It is a Jewish tradition to place small stones or white rocks on top of the grave of a loved one. It's a meaningful gesture that represents remembrance and respect.
Exhibit K: Cleansing agent
Before there were Maytag and Whirlpool washing machines, people hung their clothes over rocks and scrubbed them with abrasive stones to remove filth and debris.
Exhibit L: Refuge and Protection
Ancient Greeks would gather rocks in a basket and lower the basket into the depths of water to keep the boat from drifting away. Collectively, the pebbles and rocks created an anchor of security. Rocks are not just stagnant beings but symbols of God's continuous fortification. He even talks about how iron sharpens iron and how one person sharpens another. Had my teacher sharpened and not dulled me, I would have felt a lot more practical, having been that rock, while she could have been the iron stone.
Revelation 2:17 states: To the victorious one, I will give some of the hidden manna; I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. When afflictions and circumstances get rough, we need to remember that Simon became Peter. We should be rock climbers like Moses, on our way to the top of a mountain. In addition, we should display teamwork and help lead others to the foundation of a stable rock.
Be encouraged by Jesus, the washer of this world. Believe that He can wash away sin and remove the stains from generational curses. We should be historians with the footprint of God on our hearts. The Lord has left many smooth and rough stones for us to use. Likewise, we should be bold like David and slay the giants of life called depression, oppression, jealousy, envy, low self-esteem, heaviness, cancer, loneliness, fear, idolatry, guilt, shame, rejection, and anxiety.
We must always rely on the truth from 1 Corinthians 10:4: "And all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." Our wonderful, powerful, and sovereign Savior, whose work is perfect. After His crucifixion, a rock was stationed in front of Jesus' tomb to keep His body from being taken away. The rock was sealed and guarded. Then there was an earthquake. The Lord's angels had rolled back the large stone. When they entered, Jesus' body was not there. Psalm 18:46 says: "The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted."
Living stone believers understand this: He is the Living Stone. Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." He is mighty in battle. Take heed; leave no stone unturned. It’s not over when the fat lady sings—it’s over when God says it’s over.
Words from Tanisha Taylor as we end the year
As the year draws to a close, rocks provide profound inspiration through their symbolism of endurance, resilience, and the power of transformation. Take a moment to reflect on a memory, lesson, and experience as a rock. Some may be rough and challenging, others smooth and comforting. Together, they form a pile of testaments to your journey. Let these stories and reflections on stones remind us of our path and the lessons we’ve gathered along the way.
My rock for success is Jesus, as the rock symbolizes the importance of building one’s life on a firm foundation of faith and obedience to God’s Word. This year has been a testament to faith and obedience in my life and business, encouraging my growth and contentment.
Build your foundation on these rocks, and carry their strength, wisdom, and beauty into the new year. "You are stronger than you think, more enduring than you realize, and as solid as the rock on which you stand." May the new year bring strength, hope, and the courage to keep building.
Tanisha Taylor, Financial & Life Coach
Tanisha Taylor is an inspirational leader in financial, life, and ministry wellness. Her journey, sparked by a childhood money encounter with her grandfather, has led her to a profound understanding of the impact of money on individuals' lives. Her mission, 'Control your money relationship, 'is a testament to her dedication to helping others create healthy and sustainable relationships with money and business.
