“Israeli soldiers and Arab Temple Mount Police guard what may be the most revered place on earth, the Dome of the Rock,” from He Walked With Us. It was built on the foundation of the temple mount constructed by King Solomon, which is over the place where Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, his son (2 Chronicles 3:1). Behind the temple and in a large courtyard, some stones on the Western Wall are up to ten feet high and nearly forty-five feet long. These stones are incredible to see; even more amazing to mentally process how they got there. The Western Wall is a place where Jews and Christians pray.
I visited an underground part of the wall where women pray. In this narrow tunnel I wrote my requests on a small piece of paper–naming each person in my family and tucked it between two large stones. It’s an experience dear and unforgettable to me.
While the Dome of the Rock is overlaid with gold and is regarded as the meeting place of God, Jesus purchased our immediate access to the Father with His own blood on the cross. The earth shook and the curtain in the most holy place in the temple was torn in two, top to bottom. All barriers to God were broken down.
As craftsmen took many years to build and rebuild the temple throughout history, God is building a church through His people. Peter said, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” In these troubling times, know that God loves and cares about what happens to you. He is available to comfort and counsel. It meant something for me to put my prayer requests into the rocks at the Wailing Wall, but it means more to me to be able to call on God any time of the day or night. He is available. His connection is always open. Have you had this experience? If so, tell someone. They might need to know.
Prayer: Holy God, thank you for Jesus who opened the door for us to have a clear connection with you, wherever we are. Thank you that you hear our prayers and that you care about what happens in our lives. Help us to trust you to lead us through these troubling times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Closer Walk with God 