Pressured into Your Potential

Is it just me or does it seem like life is getting more and more challenging? What we used to be able to count on we can’t count on any more. What used to be easy doesn’t seem so easy any more. What we used to take for granted we now have to be concerned about. In the words of the immortal Glen Frey, “The Heat is On!” (refresher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYIUhi-Ybi4).

One word that comes to mind as I think about this new normal is “pressure.” Pressure is defined as “the continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it.” I don’t know about you, but it often feels like I have physical forces being continually exerted against me by my finances, family obligations, business challenges, personal commitments, and other various situations.

Thinking about pressure makes me think about olives. Why olives? I was recently reading about the process of making olive oil. I used to think that getting olive oil was as simple as crushing them in some kind of press. Actually, according to Wikipedia, olive oil extraction is the process of separating the oil from its other contents (if interested look up “olive oil extraction” on Wikipedia).

While the process of extraction does involve pressing the olive, that’s not all there is. The ultimate goal of extraction is to separate the oil from the water that’s contained in the olive. Although oil and water don’t naturally mix, several steps, including washing, grinding, and pressing are needed to ensure the highest quality taste.

How does this relate to our lives? James 1:2-4 (Message) explains it very well:
“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

As life’s challenges come at you from all directions, their purpose is not just to weigh you down with more concerns. God is using these situations to wash, grind, and press His character into you and your character out of you (His character and our character don’t mix). Just like the olive, your true value comes from what’s inside of you that needs to flourish, not what’s outside of you that you might be chasing after (2 Peter 1:3).

When this character formation happens successfully, the result is that you (and others) will experience the benefits of God’s promises being fulfilled in your life. However, if you try to exit the process or skip steps, He has to start all over again with new situations and circumstances that will wash, grind, and press you.

I know the process of being pressured into your potential is uncomfortable, hot, difficult, and sometimes even hurts. Hang in there. Your best is just waiting to be squeezed out!

Dream B.I.G.,
Paul Wilson, Jr.

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