A man was sleeping at night in
his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared.
The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large
rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push
against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did; day after
day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set
squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing
with all his might.
Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that
his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing signs of
discouragement, the Enemy decided to enter the picture by placing
thoughts into the man's weary mind:
"You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't
budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it."
Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and
that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the
man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time
giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough." And that
is what he planned to do, until one day he decided to make it a matter
of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting
all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this
time, I have not even budged that rock by half an inch. What is
wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to
serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against
the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I
mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push.
And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have
failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself...Your arms are strong
and muscled, your hands are callused from
constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard.
Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass
that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your
calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and
trust in My wisdom. This you have done.
Now I, my friend, will now move the rock."
