push.

I wrote this reflection while I’m on my way to Davao from Tagum in a taxi.

May of 2007.

             There are just things in life that you can’t explain why it is happening, contrary to what you worked on and planned. When you feel that you’ve done everything, gave your best shot and yet things didn’t come the way you want it and expect it to be. It hurts and it is very painful to see your efforts, even your prayers wasted, as if it didn’t matter. It is frustrating to know all of it were put into waste.

            But in times like this that God speaks the most. It is in these times, when we felt we're nothing, God displays His majesty. It is when we are humbled by the situation that He exalts himself. When we started to feel we're powerless, only then will He can show His true power.

            The best thing to do is to switch to auto-pilot. Let God and let go. Only He knows the reason why these things are happening. He knows all your efforts, every little thing you did. He knows your concerns, He hears your prayers. He knows your hurts and pains, more so with your frustrations. He knows, and He cares.

            Let’s just put things in the right perspective. This work, this world was, is and will never be about us. So let us stop acting as if everything depends on us, as if were the ones who make things work.

            I was reminded of the story of a great person who’s asked by the Lord to push a huge stone, larger than him that is. And because that person was obedient, even if he didn’t know exactly what to do and why, he simply followed what was said and started pushing the stone. Days passed, weeks and months, still nothing happened. After a year, the stone he’d passionately been pushing everyday, never moved, not even a single inch. Thus came his frustrations, he began to complain. Pointing out the things he has done and his great efforts for the task, he asked the Lord why. The Lord simply answered: “My instruction was for you to push the stone, never did I mentioned of moving it”. “Now”, He continued, “let me move the stone”.

A simple story that reminds me about the following: Never question the Lord why, trust Him that He knows and that He is in control. Listen intently and obey, follow His will even if it means suffering. Give your best shot; give your all, without expecting any result. If the Lord will bless our efforts and give us what we want, let’s thank Him for that. If He won’t, at least you’ve done your part and rest assured He sees it.

It leads me to the conclusion that everything is about God and His greatness. It’s about His love and grace and not our human efforts that will make things work. Sounds unfair huh? But shouldn’t we be happy that grace is unfair? For if it is fair, we’ll have nothing, for we all deserve condemnation. God’s unfair love saved all of us in the cross, is the same love that has been blessing all our efforts and the things that we do even if we deserve the opposite.

So, there’s no room for us to complain and question why things didn't turned out the way we want them to be, we simply obey and put our hope in Him.

Now, push...