Saturday, June 20
a timely story.
there was a man asleep in his cabin when he suddenly awoke. the Saviour appeared in his room and it was filled with light. the Lord said, "i have work for you to do." He showed him a large rock and told him to push against that rock with all his might. this the man did, and for many days he toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulder set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the rock, pushing with all his might. each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, wondering if his whole day had been spent in vain.seeing that the man showed signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture, placing thoughts in the man's mind such as, why are you doing this? you're never going to move it. you've been at it a long time and you haven't even scratched the surface. the man began to sense that the task was impossible and that he was an unworthy servant because he wasn't able to move the massive stone.
these thoughts discouraged and disheartened him, and he started to ease up on his efforts. why am i doing this? he thought. i'll just put in my time, expending a minimum amount of effort, and that will be good enough. and that he did, or at least planned on doing, until one day he decided to take his troubles to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "i have laboured hard and long in Your service, putting forth all my strength to do that which you have asked me. yet, after all this time, i have not even nudged that rock a millimeter. what is wrong? am i failing You?"
"My son," the Lord replied, "when long ago I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you to push against the rock with all your strength. that you have done. but never once did I mention that I expected you to move it, at least not by yourself! your task was to push! now you come to me all discouraged, thinking that you have failed, and you are ready to quit. but is that really so? look at yourself. your arms are strong and muscled, your back is sinewy and brown. your hands are calloused and your legs have become massive and hard. through opposition you have grown much, and your ability now far surpasses that which you used to have. yet, still, you haven't succeeded in moving the rock. you come to Me now with a heavy heart and your strength spent. I, my son, will move the rock. your calling was to be obedient and to push, to exercise your faith and to trust in my wisdom. this you have done."
-by Neil T. Anderson
help me to trust.