Luke 12:22-23; 30 ESV

“And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing… For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.”

Mark 16:3-4 ESV

“And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.”

When was the last time you had hope? We live in challenging times, and there seems to be something new to worry about every day. We are in a pandemic, our country is in distress, and there is tension from all directions. Anxiety seems to be the plague of the hour.

I imagine that after the crucifixion, the mood was dismal for the disciples as it sometimes is for us. Where was the One who had cared for them, taught them, and led them? Jesus had told them not to be anxious, but that had seemed easier when He was with them!

Jesus was dead, his disciples were in hiding, and it seemed like the only thing left to be done was to care for his body, so Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome headed to the tomb to anoint his body with spices.

The stone that covered the tomb was a real problem that the women were concerned about: it presented a literal, physical obstacle. These huge stones were part of everyday life, but they could only be moved by the strong and well-equipped. How underprepared and unequipped the women must have felt!

I can only imagine their wonder when they got to the tomb and found the stone already moved from the entrance. Who had ever seen a tomb without its stone before any visitors arrived? Unheard of!

But the Lord used the opportunity to shock them and show all His power; no tomb stone was going to be a big enough obstacle to deny Him, not even one sealed by a Roman authority. There would be no need for a body to be anointed, no need for mourners.

What issues in life seem to loom over you? What do you feel unequipped to face? We can find ourselves on the receiving end of bad news from the doctor. We can be plagued with bills that seem daunting, appliances that aren’t working, or family struggles where it seems like there’s no end in sight. It may feel like life is filled with boulders that you can’t budge.

God is not intimidated by your challenges. Give Him room to work in your life, on your behalf, and watch Him do the heavy lifting. As you spend time with Him and trust Him, you may be surprised how He chooses to move stones in ways you never saw coming.

Father,

Help me to trust in Your strength in a greater way. Remind me of the plans You have for me that I may not see around the bend yet. Help me identify any stone I’m trying to wrestle out of place myself and teach me how to get out of the way so You can work. Thank You that there is not any obstacle in my life that You don’t care about, no stone that is too heavy for you.

Thank You for Your love for me.

In Jesus’ name, amen.