On the Other Side of Your Obedience
They asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. (Mark 16:3-4 NIV)
In Mark 16, Mary and Mary followed the customs of their culture. Their hearts were set on God and honoring Jesus’s body. As they gathered anointing oils and sweet spices, they had a question: “Who shall roll away this stone?” It was an obstacle keeping them from honoring Jesus one last time.
As we, too, set our hearts on accomplishing the things of God, there will be obstacles. Our obstacles are no surprise to God. Like Mary and Mary, the big stones blocking our path can represent anything from trials to the walls we build in our minds that are a hindrance to the will of God. If you seek God about these obstacles and allow him to reveal to you what he wants you to know, you will not be disappointed.
As I pored over the book of Mark, God poured out his revelation. God’s revelations emerge in what I think of as layers. As we study his Word and seek him, God will continue to give us more and deeper revelations—layers of understanding. In poring over the book of Mark, the Holy Spirit led me to understand one thing: Whatever we may be seeking, God already has an answer.
God is the great provider. He sees all and knows all. Everything that we need, he is already aware of. When God provides in abundance, it makes our hearts merry, and at times we give joyful praise. But there is another, sometimes more difficult side to God’s provision.
I often find that we must combine our works with our faith to see the vision fulfilled. We must put our hands to the plow in faith. Just as Mary and Mary gathered the implements of burial, not knowing how they would move the stone so they could put those implements to use, so we must do what we are called to do without always seeing what God will do to bring our work to fruition.
Putting our hand to the plow does not equate to operating in the flesh. Sometimes putting our hand to the plow means simply waiting—taking no action. This may be confusing to new believers in Christ and even to some mature believers. But no matter how long you’ve been in Christ, the explanation is this: God will bless us through our obedience, whatever that looks like. We never know how God will operate, but when we act in faith, we will eventually see him move. Frustration comes when we operate in the flesh, trying to work and make our work count so God will answer our prayers the way we want and in our timing. If we relinquish control to God, we will have peace. This is called trust.
In Mark 16, because of Mary’s and Mary’s obedience, they received more than what they asked for:
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” (Mark 16:5-7 NIV)
Not only had God sent his angel to roll away the stone, but God used the two women to spread the gospel of Jesus’s resurrection. Mary and Mary were not expecting this. They thought all they were going to do was anoint Jesus’s dead body and move forward with their lives. Little did they know that God would use them to break many of the religious customs of their day. It was not customary for a woman to preach or hold any prominent offices in those days. Mary and Mary broke that mold.
Whatever God has called you to do, know that it is no accident. This life of yours is being orchestrated by God, and all the answers to your questions are on the other side of your obedience. Mary and Mary asked, “Who will roll the stone away?” but they did not receive their answer until they arrived at the tomb.
This is God’s Word to you, and to all believers: go and do what God has put on your heart. You will not get a map or a blueprint, but you will hear his answers to you questions on the other side of your obedience.
is an author, writer, and businesswoman who was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. and currently resides in North Carolina. She has written three books: Failing Forward into God’s Purpose, What’s Your Fish?: The Story of Jonah, and It Is Time. Her podcast “Let’s Talk: The Journey to Moving Forward” is in its third season and can be heard wherever podcasts are available. She encourages others in the Word of the Lord on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Photograph © Brooke Lark, used with permission
