A man was sleeping one 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
sunup to sundown, 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, eeling
that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing
discouragement, the adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture
by placing thoughts into the weary mind: (He will do it every time)!


"You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn't
moved." Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was
impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged
and disheartened the man.


Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving
just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."


That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a
matter of prayer and to 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 of 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 shiny and brown;
your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs
have become massive and hard.


Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now
surpass that which you used to have. True, 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. You have done that.

Now I, my friend, will move the rock."