A stonemason must have patience. He may hammer 100 times on a large rock and nothing happens, but with the 101st blow, the stone splits. An oil rig drills round and round, for days, weeks or even months. And then one day, in one final turn, the oil gushes up from thousands of feet deep inside the earth. In both cases, it wasn't the 101st blow of the hammer or the millionth turn of the drill that brought success -- it was all the work that went before, plus that last effort.
Consider parents on Graduation Day. A young woman crosses the stage to get her diploma and two people rise quietly from their seats as her name is spoken. The man raises a small camera and a tiny spark of light flashes across the arena, capturing the moment. How many other moments did they watch her, or how many decisions did they make, or how many times did they wonder if she would make it to this day? But there she is, a graduate, ready to leave home and become independent and on her own.
What are you hammering at right now? Or what work have you set in motion? What snapshot have you just taken? Are you depressed because there's no apparent difference on the surface for all your efforts? Are you repeating the same tasks over and over, with no noticeable results? Are you trying to get through to someone who doesn't seem to be listening to you?
When it comes to your relationship with God, you can be sure that your prayers are answered. You can trust that your offerings, your actions, or your worship is not unnoticed. God sees your heart. He recognizes your faith. He knows your needs and will provide you. The work you do for Him or for His people is never in vain. Your effort will achieve its goal, even if at times that effort seems futile.
In Christ, keep on keeping on!
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