February 10

The heavy lifting

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Luke 24:1-2

How many times can you remember in life when you were worried or concerned about how something was going to work out, but when you got to that moment in time you found that it was already taken care of and there was no need to worry at all.  Yet still when the next time came around, you worried again about how you would do something only to find again, God had already taken care of it.  

When the women were on their way to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, they were worried about how they were going to get to Jesus’ body because a large stone had been placed in front of the tomb. But when they got there an angel had already moved the stone and they were no longer worried about that.  In fact, I don’t think they ever thought about it again because everything was completely different than they expected.  

These ladies had done their part. They got up early. They went to the tomb.  They came with everything they needed to anoint Jesus’ body. They had made all the preparations that they could, but the one thing they couldn’t do was move the stone.  That was God’s part.  God does all the heavy lifting.

In our daily struggles, are we putting everything on God, or are we doing the part within our ability and watching for God to meet us at the door that needs open or to make a path in the wilderness?  He won’t do it all, but He will meet you at the point that you cannot go any further, but you must start moving or you will never see the wonders He has prepared for you to walk in.

Today I want to encourage you to trust in God’s faithfulness.  Commit whatever you are up against and moving toward to God.  Ask Him to meet you at the precise moment that you are unable to move forward anymore.  Know that whatever you are facing and whatever is coming up next in your life, He is already there and has rolled every stone away, opened every door and made a way through every wilderness.  He holds you and He holds tomorrow!!

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 24:1-12

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 

2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 

3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 

4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 

5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 

6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 

7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

8 And they remembered His words. 

9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 

10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 

11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 

12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.