The service at our church was simply amazing today. God spoke to me quite clearly and really gave me some perspective on life. Here is what really touched me:
The Unmoved Rock
Once upon a time, there was a man who was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Saviour 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 placing thoughts into the man's mind such as: "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 even more. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough." And that 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 a half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?" To this the Lord responded compassionately, "My child, when long ago 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, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewed 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. I, my child, will now move the rock."
This hit home so much for me. It's not about the outcome, its about being obedient, and listening, after that it's all Him! I am released from anything than what He has directed me to. I am called to take in hurt kids and to love them unconditionally. After that its ALL HIM!!! Praise the Lord, a weight has been lifted. I can love them, I can give them a home. I don't have to take on the burden when they make poor choices, I don't have to be responsible for what they do when they leave my house. God has them after that! But, also because they are the rock that has been placed before me, I can look at how they changed ME! I can stop and see how they have helped heal me, helped mold me into a better person. They are placed in my life to help me as much as I am to help them. This seems so simple, but it really hit me today. I pray that maybe it could touch your heart as it did mine! My rock is not always my kids, it might be my job, it might be my husband, whatever it is I am focused on being obedient, and listening. The outcome isn't up to me.
