By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Years ago a wise king decided to test the sincerity of the citizens of his empire. Early one morning, he rolled a big stone onto the middle of the road and then hid behind a rock to see who would move the stone from the road to the benefit of the other travelers.

As the king predicted, some of the richest and most prominent citizens of his kingdom simply walked around the stone, leaving it there. Others even loudly criticized the king for the stone, as it was, according to them, the king’s responsibility to remove it. Nobody, however, tried to move the stone.

Then, by late afternoon, a poor farmer pushed his cart past the stone. He immediately stopped and for the next hour struggled to roll the stone away. Achieving that, he leaned against the wheel of his cart for a moment to get his breath back. When he looked back to where the stone was in the road, he suddenly saw a bag in the hole. He curiously walked towards it, picked it up and opened it. In shock, he stared at a bag filled with golden coins.  Attached was a note from the king, saying that the coins belonged to the person who rolled away the stone.

In our lives, there are also sometimes stones in the road, in the form of obstacles that we need to remove. And just as the king was hiding behind the rock, watching the people, God also has His eyes on us. In Psalm 33:13-14 we read: “The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth.” At times, He uses the obstacles to test our character. In James 1: 2-3 we read: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

Are you currently in a situation in which it feels as if you are tested due to a stone directly in your path – maybe you have an obstacle in the workplace; your marriage, your health, a challenge with a child or even your in-laws? Abraham and Joseph also both faced difficult situations, but because they both endured and passed thecharacter test attached, God made Abraham a father of nations, and promoted Joseph in a day from prisoner to Viceroy of Egypt.

Every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our current situation. This is what the poor farmer discovered along his way. Let us therefore pass the test. The reward on the other side may also take your breath away. God bless.

Father God, thank you that I am important to you. Please help me not to get discouraged or frustrated with the obstacles in my life, but rather see them as opportunities to get to know You more intimately. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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