NEVERTHELESS, EACH ONE SHOULD RETAIN THE PLACE IN LIFE THAT THE LORD ASSIGNED TO HIM AND TO WHICH GOD HAS CALLED HIM.  THIS IS THE RULE I LAY DOWN IN ALL THE CHURCHES
(1 Corinthians 7:17).

The other day I was very discouraged.  I went for a walk on the beach and asked God to send me encouragement.  When I got home, a friend had sent me a story:

The story was about a man who received an assignment from God.  The Lord showed the man a large rock in front of the man’s house and asked him to push against the rock with all his might.  The man was obedient.  For many years, he toiled from sunset to sundown, pushing against the rock with all his might.  But then the man became discouraged.  He went to God and lamented, “I have labored long and hard for You, Lord, putting all my strength to do what You have asked.  Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged the rock by half a millimeter.  What is wrong?  Why am I failing?”

God responded compassionately, “My friend, I asked you to push against the rock with all your might.  Never once did I mention that I expected you to move it.  Your calling was only to be obedient.  But look at you. With all the toil and exertion, you have become patient and disciplined, which will produce a harvest of Righteousness and Peace in your life.  Because you have done what I have asked of you, I WILL NOW USE MY OWN STRENGTH TO MOVE THE ROCK!”

AS A PRISONER FOR THE LORD, THEN, I URGE YOU TO LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING YOU HAVE RECEIVED
(Ephesians 4:1).

Did you know that God does not expect you to move the rock?  He is only asking you to be obedient and do the task for which He has called you, whether this is to be a mother, a father, an encourager, a giver, a leader, an author, a servant, or any other specific person He has called you to be.

By being obedient, you will become patient and disciplined, which will produce a harvest of God’s Righteousness and Peace in your life, so you may become the person He wants you to be.  Then, when you are the person He wants you to be, GOD HIMSELF WILL MOVE THE ROCK through you.

FOR YOU HAVE NEED OF ENDURANCE, SO THAT AFTER YOU HAVE DONE THE WILL OF GOD, YOU MAY RECEIVE THE PROMISE
(Hebrews 10:36).

When you stand in front of God one day, what might be more important to Him: that you lived a life worthy of the calling He gave you…or that you lived your life trying to move the rock that was in your way?

PRAYER: Lord God, help me to focus on the Calling I have received, instead of focusing on the rock that is in my way. Remind me, daily, that being obedient to Your Calling is far more important than having my own way.