Why Push Against the Rock?

A few weeks ago I had a flashing thought that it would be a good idea to start a blog and record some of the things that matter most to me. Whether they be life experiences, beliefs or truths that have made a difference in my life. I am a busy dental student in Iowa where I feel like I merely eat, drink, think and dream teeth! For some reason however, I feel that there is some good that I can do by sharing a small portion of the ramblings that go on in my head. I will let you be the judge if this was a good idea or not.

Growing up I spent a lot of time working for my Grandfather. My Grandpa can talk for hours and I can listen for hours so we make a great team. He told me one day to memorize the lines penned by David Henry Thoreau: "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." It is a simple phrase but it has stuck with me and had a powerful impact on the way that I view myself and others. 

It means that we all have challenges, we all have demons in our closets that persist to make our lives challenging. They may come in the form of persistent health problems, strained or abusive family relationships, marital problems and divorce or lack of marital prospects, friends and resulting loneliness, addiction and the guilt of past mistakes, financial distress and mounting debt and a number of other things that weigh heavily on our minds whether they are our fault or not. It is NORMAL and a crucial part of life and no one is immune! 

God knows our struggles and we can be assured that there is a purpose, beyond our current understanding, for the pain that we experience. As Neal Maxwell said "[Life] presents us with numerous opportunities to become more Christlike: first, by coping successfully with those of life’s challenges which are “common to man[kind]” (1 Cor. 10:13). In addition, there are also our customized trials such as experiencing illness, aloneness, persecution, betrayal, irony, poverty, false witness, unreciprocated love, et cetera. If endured well now, “all these things” can be for our good and can “greatly enlarge the soul,” including an enlarged capacity for joy (D&C 122:7; D&C 121:42). Meek suffering often does the excavating necessary for that enlarging!"

God knows us and loves us so much that He gives us trials, unique to us and fitted to our endowed capacities that stretch us and broaden our current understanding thus increasing our empathy and enlarging our ability to meet future challenges with greater faith, power and resolution. God doesn't give us our neighbors trials because they would not stretch us where we need to be stretched and would lack the power to sufficiently prepare us to enter His kingdom. Even though we feel inadequate in the moment and at times only moments away from losing it, we are being shaped, empowered and refined.  

This principle reminds me of a story written by an unknown author about a man who, like us, was given more than he could handle:

"There was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room was filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told him he had a work for him to do, and showed him a large rock, explaining that he was to push against that rock with all of 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, 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 in the man's mind, such as 'Why kill yourself over this, you're never going to move it,' or 'Boy, you've been at it a long time and you haven't even scratched the surface,' etc. - giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was an unworthy servant because he wasn't moving the massive stone."

"These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man and he started to ease up in his efforts.  'Why kill myself?' he thought.  'I'll just put in my time, putting forth just the minimum 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 labored hard and long in your service, putting forth all my strength to do that which you have asked of me.  Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock 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 to push against the rock with all our strength, and that you have done.  But never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it.  At least not by yourself.  Your task was to push and now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed and ready to quit.  But is that really so?  Look at yourself.  Your arms are strong and muscled.  Your hands are calloused from constant pressure 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; and you come to me now with a heavy heart and your strength spent.  I, my friend will move the rock.  Your calling was to be obedient and to push, and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom...and this you have done."

I have come to know that despite our "quiet desperations," if we will turn to Christ and "take His yoke upon ourselves and learn of Him (Matthew 11:28-30)" we will find His grace and power sufficient to uphold us in our weakness and empower us to become stronger, more capable men and women and better fitted for His kingdom.