There once was
a man who wished to live his life for the Lord; he prayed day and night
that God would speak to him and reveal His glory. Then one night while
he was sleeping, the man’s room was suddenly filled with light and the
Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and
showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. God 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 it with everything he had. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. The rock did not move an inch.
At last the man became so discouraged, he cried out,
“Lord! I have labored long and hard in your service, spending all my strength to do what you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not been able to even budge that rock. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”
The Lord looked upon him with compassion and replied, “My child, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your might. But, never once did I mention that I expected you to move it. Your task was only 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 calloused 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.
“No, you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push, to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done.
I, My Child, will now move the rock.”
Right now, I am the man in this story. Over the past few months I have struggled in vain to uncover God’s Will for my life. Is the June World Race really where He wants me? Or is He calling me to stay put in L.A. and get rooted where I am?
Stay or Go? This decision has been my rock. I have felt like the man, pushing day after day, hoping it would move. I have toiled with this choice, weighing pros and cons, going back and forth, feeling the pressure of time creeping up on me.
I have sought God like never before in my life. I have fasted and prayed, I have studied His Word, I have called out to Him time and time again. Lord, what do you want?! And yet there has been no answer…except to wait on Him.
At training I felt a little like an imposter. There I was among all these people who know they are called on this Race, who are excited to see what God will do, and yet I am not fully committed. I wanted to be rearing to go, but God had not shown himself yet, and I didn’t know when He would. I was fearful that He may never reveal himself, and I was growing weary of waiting.
Then, one night near the end of camp, I was prostrate in prayer as we lifted up our lives to God, sacrificing everything to Him. I was letting go, or trying to, of everything that could hinder the Lord’s work in me. God was breaking me. I silently cried, “Father, I have tried so hard to seek you and to be obedient to you! Why won’t you answer me?”
As I lay there weeping, I felt a hand on my back, and a quiet voice whispered, “The Lord has your answer! DO NOT FEAR!”
Those words meant the world to me. In that moment, I surrendered all my fears on both sides of this decision. God gave me overwhelming peace as I resolved to continue in obedience and wait on Him.
Now I am back in Los Angeles, and I still have no idea if I am going on the June World Race. But, I know God’s answer is coming. I will continue to push on my rock, looking to God and growing in faith and stature. I do not need to worry, and I will persevere.
My rock is still here, but one day soon, God WILL move it!
