Pushing the Rock (Story)

This is a story I've heard in passing from time-to-time. I'd like to share it today with you. 

~ ESA

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A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and Jesus appeared before him. 

Christ 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 every day 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 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, the adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man’s 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 the adversary gave 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?" he said to himself. "I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough."

And that is what he planned the very next day day.

That night, Jesus visited the man again, and the man decided to the matter before Him. “Lord” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength pushing against that rock. See my hands? See how my muscles are so tired, and my back aches at the end of each day. Yet, after all this time, I have not even been able to budge that rock. Not even an inch! What is wrong? Why am I failing?”

Jesus 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 back sinewy and brown, 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. Yes, 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.”