The Assignment

The story is told of the Lord appearing to a man in a dream. In the dream, God showed the man a large rock and told the man to push against the rock with all his might. For many years, the man toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulder set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving stone, pushing it with all his might. Each night the man returned to his camp tired and sore, feeling that his entire day had been spent in vain.

Then, after many years, the Adversary approached the man to torment his weary mind. "You have been pushing against this rock for a long time, and it has not budged. The years of your life have flown by, but you have nothing to show for it. Why kill yourself for an impossible task? You will never move this stone."

In the days that followed, the man grew discouraged. Though he continued to push against the stone, he was tempted to push with less strength, and to simply be satisfied with minimal effort. Yet, in his heart, he knew that half-hearted obedience would never satisfy the Lord.

So he prayed and said, "Lord, 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, the stone has not moved. Why have I failed you, Lord? What have I done wrong?"

The Lord replied with loving compassion: "My friend, when I asked you to serve me with all your strength -- which you have done -- never once did I mention that I expected you to move the stone. Your task was to push against the rock with all your might. 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 legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now far surpass what you once possessed. The stone may not have moved, but you have been trusting, and obedient, and patient. And my desires have been accomplished not in the changes to the stone, but in the changes to you. Well done, my servant. And now that hyou are strong, I have a task prepared especially for you..."