Push against the rock

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and then 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 worked from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing it 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.
Noticing 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 this 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 troubling thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. “Why kill myself over this?” 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 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 been able to budge that rock. 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. I, my friend, will now move the rock.”
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 simple obedience and Faith in Him…
By all means exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves them.
Zechariah 4:6:
6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!
Sometimes God’s ownership of a project is recognized only after our best efforts have failed.
It is dangerous to think that God is responsible for only insignificant details of a project while we take charge of the larger aspects.
Instead, it is God who is in control and we only play a part in his overall plan. When God gives us important jobs to do, it isn’t because he needs our help.
Zerubbabel was commanded to rebuild God’s temple but was met with opposition.
The Temple foundation was then quickly completed, but soon two problems arose.
A few old men didn’t think the new temple was as glorious as the ones before and that was discouraging also, some enemies tried to infiltrate the workforce and stop the building with political pressure. Fear caused the work to gring to a halt.
Zerubbabel, like many of us, knew how to start well but found it hard to keep going. He let discouragement get the better of him. But when he let God take control, the work was finished. God is always in control. We must not let circumstances or lack of encouragement slow us from doing the tasks God has given us.
Believers can expect opposition when we do God’s work.
2 Timothy 3:12:
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Paul told Timothy here that people who obey God and live for Christ will be persecuted.
Don’t be surprise when people misunderstand, criticize, and even try to hurt you because of what you believe and how you live. Don’t give up. Continue to live as you know you should. God is the only one you need to please.
Unbelievers and evil spiritual forces are always working against God and his people.
The opposition may offer compromising alliances, attempt to discourage and intimidate us, or accuse us unjustly. If you expect these tactics, you won’t be hindered by them. Move ahead with the work God has planned for you, and trust him to show you how to overcome the obstacles.

Many people believe that to survive in this world a person must be tough, strong, unbending, and harsh. But God says,” Not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit”.
The key words are “by my spirit.”
It is only through God’s Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished.
As you live for God, determine not to trust in your own strength or abilities. Instead, depend on God and work in the power of his Spirit.


What you do for God may seem small and insignificant at the time, but God rejoices in what is right, not necessarily in what is big. Be faithful in the small opportunities. Begin where you are and do what you can, and leave the results to God.
God isn’t concerned about our abilities as much as he is about our availability.
God delights in our obedience to him.
In the book A Blessed Life the author tells of a time when one couple who seemed seemingly broken before the Lord came up to him. They were weeping almost uncontrollably. They said that the Lord had spoken to them about giving away every penny they had. He learned that they had written a check for all the money they had in the world. Now they were bringing him the check, saying” were supposed to give this to you. Do whatever you feel you’re supposed to do with it”.
The man asked them again” are you saying this is mine now, and I can do anything that I want with it?” Through there tears they nodded yes. And then the man tore up the check in front of them.
You see God nor this church really needs your money but what God does require is your obedience.
If God would tell you today to push on a rock for one whole year would you do it?
God is asking of us all to be obedient to him today, He has a mighty plan for each one of us and even though what we are going through right now may not seem to make a whole lot of since don’t get discourage but press on.
Don’t let your current circumstance hinder the great work God would have you to be part of. Surrender your all and answer the call.