The Push
Wednesday night, one of the young men did a devotional at church. The young man read a story about a guy who had a great big rock outside his house. God told him to push against the rock, so everyday the man pushed and pushed but the rock didn't move. Satan came to discourage telling him that he was making absolutely no progress and all he had to show for his efforts was pain and wasted time. The man felt Satan was right but decided to talk to God about it. He voiced his frustrations to the Lord. The Lord said something to the effect of "I know the rock has not moved, I did not ask you to move it, only to push against it. You have done what I asked and the muscles in your back and legs have become stronger, your arms and shoulders are more powerful." I have not done this story justice but you get the imagery.
I know that all too often I have been discouraged at the seeming futility of my tasks. I have often wondered, "What am I doing here?" I have felt like I was beating my head against a wall and making absolutely no progress at all. I have asked God what He had in mind for me and why the path He'd led me down seemed to go around and around in circles. That devotional made me realize that I am only to obey. I must keep pushing on the rock. God will move the rock when He is ready for it to move.
So many times I have measured my success by the outcomes rather than the effort. God measures differently. He is concerned with the effort. For God, it is all about the push--the push is the manifestation of our love and obedience. God tells us to work for Him, to glorify Him in all we do, to live so that others might believe, so their hearts might be touched. When we do this, He is the one who softens their hearts. We are accountable for only what He asks of us. There are times when success is late in coming.
I remember my parents trying to teach my grandmother the gospel. They set examples, invited her to church, offered Bible studies and prayed for her for around 30 years. She became a christian when she was 80 years old. God moved the rock, my parents were called to push on it.
I do not know what God has in store for me. I often feel useless and unfruitful. I realize I have been measuring my success by the movement of the rock. I have not been called to move the rock but just to push and so I am determined to patiently continue to push until I am stronger and leaner and until God moves the rock.
Neva
I know that all too often I have been discouraged at the seeming futility of my tasks. I have often wondered, "What am I doing here?" I have felt like I was beating my head against a wall and making absolutely no progress at all. I have asked God what He had in mind for me and why the path He'd led me down seemed to go around and around in circles. That devotional made me realize that I am only to obey. I must keep pushing on the rock. God will move the rock when He is ready for it to move.
So many times I have measured my success by the outcomes rather than the effort. God measures differently. He is concerned with the effort. For God, it is all about the push--the push is the manifestation of our love and obedience. God tells us to work for Him, to glorify Him in all we do, to live so that others might believe, so their hearts might be touched. When we do this, He is the one who softens their hearts. We are accountable for only what He asks of us. There are times when success is late in coming.
I remember my parents trying to teach my grandmother the gospel. They set examples, invited her to church, offered Bible studies and prayed for her for around 30 years. She became a christian when she was 80 years old. God moved the rock, my parents were called to push on it.
I do not know what God has in store for me. I often feel useless and unfruitful. I realize I have been measuring my success by the movement of the rock. I have not been called to move the rock but just to push and so I am determined to patiently continue to push until I am stronger and leaner and until God moves the rock.
Neva
posted by Neva | 8:52 AM
1 Comments:
P- Pray
U-Until
S-something
H- happens
Keep it up, you are encouraging me and I'm so very thankful you are here.
Love,
Abby
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