“Mary … seeth the stone taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1).

This stone had worried the women as they hurried toward the grave where Jesus’ body lay. They knew it was there, they knew that it was too heavy for them to roll away with their own frail hands, and they wondered how they could get it removed. But now, when they came in sight of the tomb, Mary looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away!

This incident illustrates many experiences in our common life. We worry about difficulties and obstacles that lie in our path and seem to block our progress. But when we move on obediently and come to the place of the supposed hindrance or obstacle, it is gone – or it was never there except in our own imagination! We find the stone rolled away. In the end, very many of our anxieties prove to be truly groundless.

Here, once and for all, we ought to learn the lesson that when God sends us anywhere, He intends to make it possible for us to go. Duty’s path always opens for us as we go on – not before we start, but as we obey and move forward. Yet we must not expect there will never be any difficulties to meet or obstacles to surmount. God has never promised that. Too easy a path is often a curse in life, not a blessing. However, by the Lord’s grace, the difficulties and obstacles that remain may be made stepping-stones by which we shall rise to higher things.

What difficulties and hindrances are you facing in your life right now? Have you prayed for the Lord’s grace to turn those obstacles into a means for you to grow in your relationship with Him?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on this article! Feel free to leave your reflections and ask your questions below.

God bless you and your family, this day and always.

All for our King’s glory,
Christian

photo by Ryan Wakefield  |  Lightstock.com

This post is another installment of Miller’s Monday Musings, a weekly series that is published every Monday on my website. The series features selected writings that have been adapted from the works of James Russell Miller (1840-1912), a much-beloved Christian author and pastor who is well-remembered for his practical thoughts on Christian home and family life. Learn more about this weekly series by clicking here.