When you press a grape, you get grape juice. When you press garlic, you get – well those little pieces of garlic that come out of the squares…and juice.
What happens when you are pressed? What comes out?
If you are a Christian – that is if Christ has arrested your heart and you have submitted to his love and grace in obedience and have hope of eternity in heaven with him – because of Christ in you, you have the ability to put to death your old self.
As long as the Lord tarries, we will struggle with our sin nature. When we are pressed some ugly things may come out. Jeremiah struggled with depression (ya think?). However he is such a wonderful mentor and example for us in these times when we are pressed while experiencing something we have never (I am assuming here) experienced before.
This is how Jeremiah cried out to the Lord while being pressed:
I have not run away from being your shepherd,nor have I desired the day of sickness.
Jeremiah 17:16
His mind was set on that to which the Lord called him and he was realistic about how that would play out.
Are you seeing some ugly stuff coming out of your heart while being pressed? I know I am!
Acknowledge that this is a time of suffering. Read your favorite psalm. How ’bout something like Psalm 119:41: Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; This is a pretty passive statement. The psalmist is crying out to the Lord to take over, he is weak. The Lord delights in rescuing us while we are calling out to him in our weakness! We are glorifying him! We are acknowledging his sovereign place in our lives!
Acknowledging your own suffering in this way humbles your heart and you can use the greatest spiritual tool in the universe: confession. When we confess our bad ju-ju-juice after we have been pressed (or are pressing someone else!) this moves us to a place beneath the cross of Christ. We confess to God our poor heart and outward responses AND we confess our outward responses to those we have sinned against…all of those we have outwardly sinned against – even children and most especially children.
Finally, we do as Jeremiah has done. We go back to who we are. Meditating on Ephesians 1-3 is like a reboot switch. See who God is. He does not change:
God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble.Therefore, we will not fear thoughthe earth gives way,..
Psalm 46:1-2
There is more to who we are! The Lord has redeemed us and made us his own AND he has given us a task to do – gifting and talents. These are not just what you do for a living, but rather practical ways you live for the Lord. Yes, we are social distancing, yes we are to stay in our homes, yes some may live alone, yet: Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and he will act (Psalm 37:4-5). Trust him to help you use the gifting and talents he gave you. If you are a mom with young kids – lean into the beautiful grace God gave you to be a mom of little (sometimes rotten) squeezed grapes! You’re one yerself! If you are alone, write, call, be a mom, a sister, a nana to those around you. God has given women an amazing feminine gift that will not be altered by culture (don’t get me started!), illness or lack of social contact. Trust him that he has you right where he wants you so that you will learn and grow and change into greater Christlikeness, which is our goal.
Jeremiah recognized and acknowledged that he was a shepherd of God’s people. That was not going very well but it was also not going away. His job was in jeopardy, his people were not listening yet he would not leave that to which the Lord called him. He acknowledges that he is in tough times: nor have I desired the day of sickness… and he doesn’t like it (Jeremiah 17:16) but it doesn’t change who he is.