In Times Of Pressure

Like a potter, the Lord is molding and forming His impress on our lives. Each day we are becoming more like Him.

Some days we may feel far from His presence. We may say or do things we regret, but we are changing. We are no longer the same person yesterday, weeks, months or years ago. That person we rather much forget who was easily angry, depressed, without peace, too occupied with success for any meaningful relationships including God.

God is a skillful potter using His hands to shape us into a beautiful and useful vessel for His glory. But He can also use another form of pressure to do a deep, inner work in our hearts.

We read in Psalms 139:9, "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;" (KJV).

The sea is a place of darkness, pressure and monsters. A place where we can't live because we are not created to withstand the cold, dark waters like the creatures that live in the vast oceans.

Sometime we find ourselves in such an ocean. The pressure of work squeezes our mind, bleeding us dry of peace. Relationships can be strained with no clear guidance on what to do when things go wrong. Times of seeking God may feel storm tossed with emotions ranging from highs to lows with nothing to anchor yourself, even a promise from the Lord seems out of reach. You cry out to God like Peter sinking beneath the waves of fear and defeat.

This "sea" is the place the Lord uses pressure to squeeze and drive up and out of us the things that are vain and empty. He wants to fill us with more of His Spirit so when we find ourselves in an ocean of sorts, we will not be crushed by the external weight pressing against us. We won't fold, crumble and sink to the bottom of the ocean floor like a ship wreck!

Remember Jonah? Here God met in the depths of sea to deal with his rebellion and disobedience.

The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. (2:5-6)

Whatever God wants to do in our lives during those ocean crossing moments, let us allow Him. We will make it back to shore with Christ, our Captain, who commands the waves of the seas to be at peace!