Have you ever had one of those days where it seems as if you are beating your head against the proverbial wall?

Picture this, no matter how you attempt to tackle a given problem you are left at the starting blocks and your feet are not moving.

If we are honest about it, most of us can relate to a time like the one described above.

Imagine a scenario where the day spent beating your head against the wall transitions into weeks and months and ultimately into a season or seasons where you feel utterly frustrated.

You cry out “What’s the use?” more times than you can count. The deepest desire of your heart is to see progress and be on a path where you continue to move forward.

However, it simply is not happening (or so you think).

You are looking for results and see none. Nada. Nil.

What you might not know is your Father seeks a greater good inside of you and He is focused on the process of conforming you to the image of His Son versus an arbitrary result you might seek.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT)

Many years ago I came across a short story written by an unknown author which not only ministered to me, but impacted me in profound ways.

It gave me the fuel to keep moving forward despite periodic obstacles and setbacks. I hope this encourages you as well.

Pushing Against the Rock – Author Unknown

There was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man He had a 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 toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock pushing 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.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture placing thoughts into the man’s mind such as; “You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it, etc.”

Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.
These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man even more. “Why kill myself over this?” he thought. “I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough.”

And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled 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 budged that rock a half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”

To this the Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when long ago 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, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back 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. Yet you haven’t moved the rock.

YOUR CALLING WAS TO BE OBEDIENT, TO PUSH, AND TO EXERCISE YOUR FAITH AND TO TRUST IN MY WISDOM; this you have done.

“My friend, I will now move the rock.”

Often times we fail to see what God sees. During a recent church service I came to understand that God sees much better as reflected in the title of the message – What Heaven Determines Earth Cannot Eliminate.

You may be tired, worn out, or indifferent from pushing against your own rock with seemingly no results to show for it. Be obedient and take aim to reap the dividends yielded by the process of your obedience.

Keep pushing, as you develop strength and persistence, while allowing Him to move the rock on your behalf.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” (Psalms 18:2)