ereks mom Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 I can't remember exactly how it goes, but I know there's a man who's asked to do something that sounds impossible -- I think it was to push a huge boulder??? He tries and tries but never gets the boulderto move, and is disappointed for having failed, but then he's told that he wasn't asked to MOVE the boulder, just push on it. Does anyone know what I'm talking about??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted July 13, 2008 Author Share Posted July 13, 2008 The Rock 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. 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. Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan 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." This gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. 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 a millimeter. 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 back sinewy and brown, 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." At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.... By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elisabeth in IL Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Thank you for sharing this story!! It is such an encouragement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Thanks for sharing. I'd heard that before but had forgotten it. Simple trust and obedience without knowing the big picture - so true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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