In the ancient text of Exodus, there’s a remarkable story about God’s intricate instructions to Moses for setting up the Tabernacle, a sacred place symbolizing His presence among His people. As I reflect on these chapters, I can’t help but see parallels between the detailed process of creating holy oil and the trials we face in life.
Imagine this: God shares His own recipe for sacred oil with Moses, listing out specific ingredients like myrrh, cinnamon, and olive oil. Each element had to undergo a process of beating, straining, or crushing before it could be used. Even the olive oil, a key component, required the crushing of countless olives to yield its precious liquid.
It strikes me that many of us have experienced our own crushing moments. Whether it’s in relationships, work, marriage, or even in our faith journey, we’ve felt the weight of pressure bearing down on us. But here’s the beautiful part: just like the ingredients for the sacred oil, those crushing moments were shaping us for a greater purpose.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:3-5:
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
As you can see, difficulties in life are there to help develop our character and ultimately guide us into the blessed hope that only God can give us.
Think about it. The financial struggles that stretched us thin, the heartbreaks that left us shattered, the challenges at work that tested our resilience – they all served a purpose. In those moments of desperation, we found ourselves leaning on God like never before. Our prayers became more earnest, our Bible study became more serious, our meditation got deeper, and our dependence on Him grew stronger.
The crushing didn’t feel good, not at all. But it was necessary. It was in those very moments that God was preparing us, refining us for His service. Just as the olive must be crushed to produce oil, we too needed to endure pressure to release the anointing within us.
So, when life’s stresses weigh heavy on your shoulders, remember this: it’s only temporary. Those crushing moments aren’t in vain. They’re part of a divine process, equipping us for our unique calling on this earth.
Don’t despise the crushing – embrace it. Thank God for it. For in those moments, He’s crafting something beautiful within us, something that will shine brightly for the world to see – evidence of His hand upon our lives.
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