Leave the obstacles to the Lord. Some hurdles may be fear, unreasonable expectations, or life problems. We can be freed from these as we walk by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7For we live by believing and not by seeing.[1]You may have obstacles in front of you that you are not sure you can overcome.
Obstacles are not all bad and often help us rely on God or others to overcome what is before us. We understand teamwork as working with another person. But have you ever thought of teaming up with God? I may not be able to overcome what is before me, but the Lord is all-powerful and all-knowing.
Obstacles at the Tomb
The women who went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body faced several challenges. First, soldiers were guarding the tomb, although the women don’t seem to know this. Second, a large stone blocked the doorway of the grave. And thirdly, Jesus’ body would have begun to decompose.
Mark 16: 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”[2] Still, the woman proceeded and did not dwell on the obstacles ahead. The Holy Spirit and their love for Jesus moved them forward. Mark 16:4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the vast stone had already been rolled aside. [3] God had gone before them to remove the obstacles.
Obstacles in Life can be Great Teachers
Throughout the Bible, many people faced obstacles that seemed beyond their ability to cope with or overcome. We often look at obstacles negatively, not realizing that obstacles are opportunities to grow in faith and look to God.
The Israelites faced the Egyptian army behind them at the Red Sea. In God’s mercy, he opened the Red Sea for them to cross, and when the Egyptian army followed them, the Lord closed the waters on top of them. The Holy Spirit prevented Paul from preaching in Asia and led him to Phrygia and Galatia.
I believe most obstacles are God’s way of helping us rely on Him. We need God’s direction to overcome, especially if we are on the wrong path. Looking at obstacles from this viewpoint changes how we think about them. It enables us to look for what the Lord teaches us through challenging situations. Isaiah 57:14 God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.” [4]
To hear how to leave the obstacles to the Lord, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/mark-the-tomb-is-still-empty
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.