A little boy is attempting to move a large rock by himself. His dad stands by watching him. As the little boy pulls, pushes and pries the rock refuses to budge. “You are not using all of your strength,” the dad says. So the little boy pulls harder, kicks at the rock, puts his shoulder on it and pushes for all he is worth. Still it doesn’t move. “You still are not using all of your strength,” dad says. The little boy looks up at his dad and back at the rock. “Yes I am, daddy!” he says. “No you aren’t” dad replies, “you have not asked me to help you.”

How often do we attempt to do things by ourselves before we seek God’s assistance? We want to believe ourselves independent and not needing anyone or anything to stand strong. Yet the truth be known we are very dependent on others and on God. Why is admitting this so hard?

Jesus told us, “Seek and you will find. Ask and it shall be given. Knock and the door will be opened.” Theophan the Recluse writes: “Such is the rule for spiritual advancement. Nothing comes without effort. The help of God is always ready and always near, but it is only given to those who seek and work, and only to those seekers who, after putting all their own power to the test, the cry out with all their heart: Lord help us. So long as you hold on to even a little hope of achieving something by your own powers, the Lord does not interfere. It is as though he says: ‘You hope to succeed by yourself—very well, go no trying! But however long you try you will achieve nothing’ May the Lord give you a contrite spirit, a humble heart.” [From the Art of Prayer]

The Lord will lead us to places where we realize that we are totally dependent on him. We see that we will utterly fail without asking, seeking and knocking on the doors of heaven and pleading for our Lord to guide us, grant us his wisdom and release our dependency upon ourselves.

Have you used ALL your strength? Have you called on your Father?