Try as he might, he couldn’t get out because the sides were too steep and slippery. He realized he was too far away for anyone to hear his cries for help so he accepted the fact that he was going to have to settle down and spend the night, trusting that someone would find him in the morning. Snuggling into a corner he soon fell asleep.
After a short time, another man took the same shortcut through the cemetery and fell into the same open grave. He tried everything he could to get out. But he too, found the sides to be too steep and slippery. One thing he did know: he did not like being in the cemetery; and he especially didn’t like being stuck in a grave. As he tried desperately to get out, he started to panic as his imagination began to run wild.
As the second man was thrashing about in the dark, the first man woke up and said, “You can’t get out of here!”
But he did!
Given the right motivation, we can do practically anything. The right motivation, strong determination, and a sense of purpose allow us to accomplish more than we thought possible.
Do you ever feel like giving up on something you know God wants you to do? If you do, I invite you to check how the level of frustration came into play. Did the project sound like a fantastic idea so you latched on to it and ran with the project? Good for you.
But! Did you run faster than God wanted you to, and you left God in the dust, following your own path and your own direction? You see, when God wants us to do something, he wants us to work with him, not ahead of him, not behind him.
The proper motivation is to want to do God’s will. This is why Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.” This is why the Letter to the Philippians says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Hang tight with our Lord. Don’t get behind him. Don’t get ahead of him. Walk with him and he will strengthen you in all things.
