There’s a picture that is etched in my mind. This picture is a man, pushing a massive boulder uphill. He is pushing with everything he has. Shoulders are strained, sweat dripping. Each step is agony. Every inch feels like a mile. And all the while, the weight of the boulder threatens to crush him. The thought goes through his head...just quit.
If you’ve ever carried a burden so heavy that you questioned your strength to continue, you know this man. This man is you. This man is each of us at different times in our lives.
Now imagine: The man finally reaches the top…exhausted. But instead of a finish line, he’s met with a wide, impassable gap between cliffs. The victory feels hollow…until something miraculous happens.
The boulder the man just pushed up the hill with all his might, the very obstacle he pushed against, rolls forward and wedges perfectly into the gap between the cliffs. The boulder now becomes a bridge. A solid, level path to the other side.
The boulder wasn’t the enemy.
The boulder wasn’t an obstacle.
The boulder was the way forward.
Obstacles Don’t Always Block the Path – Sometimes They Are the Path
We don’t like obstacles. They’re frustrating. They interrupt our momentum. Our obstacles make us feel stuck, inadequate, or overwhelmed. Thoughts may come into our head to just quit.
But here is what I’ve come to believe: The obstacle in your way may actually be the key to overcoming the next bigger obstacle.
Maybe the obstacle you've been pushing is the very bridge over which others will need to cross.
The struggle you are in now, the job that exhausts you, the fitness goal that feels far off, the lack of progress you feel you are making, the relationship you’re fighting for, the inner battles you face – battles that no one sees, may be the very thing that, once endured, positions you for the next breakthrough.
Perhaps the struggle you are making now is building the very muscles and experience that you will need to overcome the next big obstacle or challenge.
It’s not just about enduring the push uphill. It’s about understanding that every ounce of effort is not wasted. The resistance builds muscles. The climb builds resilience. This experience is building character, strength, commitment, and confidence. And in the end, the boulder will become the bridge.
What if You are Closer Than You Think?
When you are in the thick of it, when you are in the middle of the struggle, it’s hard to see the hilltop. We certainly cannot see the future obstacles. Progress feels slow, results seem distant. You wonder if it even matters.
But here’s what I want to tell you today:
Don’t quit pushing. Do not quit. Do not accept defeat. You don’t know how close you are to the top!
What you are building, strengthening, and becoming in the process matters. And sometimes the breakthrough doesn’t look like applause or ease. The breakthrough looks like a perfectly placed boulder you didn’t even know you needed.
Action Steps:
If you’re in a season where the push feels endless, try these:
1. Name the boulder. What specific obstacle are you facing? Naming the obstacle helps you own it, rather than being owned by it.
2. Break it into steps. Pushing the boulder can feel overwhelming unless you focus on one movement at a time. What’s one small action you can make today?
3. Find your footing. Clarity of values, daily routines, and community support give you traction.
4. Look for meaning. Ask, “How is this shaping me for what’s ahead?” Growth often hides in grit – or an unconquerable spirit, a relentless pursuit.
5. Believe the climb has a purpose. That belief may not lighten the load, but it will strengthen your heart.
