Have you ever heard the phrase, "Press through it." It comes up in the Christian sub-culture a lot. "I just need to press through it, brother." In most cases, these people are referring to a difficult trial or circumstance in their lives, where if they "press through" (implication - 'into God') that they'll land somewhere upon God's golden floor and land gently at his feet. We "press into God" when facing marital problems. We "press into God" when we encounter financial problems. We "press into God" when just about anything comes our way that is more than we can handle. I "press into God" almost daily.
There is nothing wrong with "pressing into God," but what one needs to be careful with is the statement's presupposition. The dangerously false presupposition is "if I don't press into God, he won't be there for me," or "I've got to press in if there's going to be any type of change happen." The biblical and correct presupposition is, "God's pulling me hard, and if I just press into him a little bit, He well pull me through."
I used to think that "pressing into God" was digging my own way out of the cave. Boots strapped tight, mustering all strength, to just get to the other side. It's silly really. God is HUGE. He's so BIG. These words don't even scratch the surface of his power. Not to mention his jealous, passionate, unbridled love for us. He goes crazy when we are hurting, or when are backs are up against the wall. HE CAN'T STAND IT!!! So he pulls with all his might to woo us to himself. Meanwhile we're trying so hard to "press in brother," and all we really need to do is simply wait. Wait on the Lord. Listen to his voice. Meditate on his great love and power to pull you through rather than your power to launch yourself towards him.
Two nights ago, my son, Jude, was asleep while Robin and I were watching television downstairs. We heard a sharp shriek, loud and alarming sound off from his crib. Like bolts of lightening we shot up the stairs, hearts pounding. We flipped on the lights and there he was moving quietly sound asleep. It must have been a dream or something, but he was certainly fine. I had the thought, "God rushes like that when we are hurting!" Jude didn't have to "press into me" in order for me to run to his aid. He simply cried. And there wasn't anything wrong! How much more does our Heavenly Father run to us when we are in pain. How much more quickly does he respond, and how much more powerful is his outstretched arm towards us, than ours towards his.
*Photograph taken by Stacy Cross: www.stacycross.com
There is nothing wrong with "pressing into God," but what one needs to be careful with is the statement's presupposition. The dangerously false presupposition is "if I don't press into God, he won't be there for me," or "I've got to press in if there's going to be any type of change happen." The biblical and correct presupposition is, "God's pulling me hard, and if I just press into him a little bit, He well pull me through."
I used to think that "pressing into God" was digging my own way out of the cave. Boots strapped tight, mustering all strength, to just get to the other side. It's silly really. God is HUGE. He's so BIG. These words don't even scratch the surface of his power. Not to mention his jealous, passionate, unbridled love for us. He goes crazy when we are hurting, or when are backs are up against the wall. HE CAN'T STAND IT!!! So he pulls with all his might to woo us to himself. Meanwhile we're trying so hard to "press in brother," and all we really need to do is simply wait. Wait on the Lord. Listen to his voice. Meditate on his great love and power to pull you through rather than your power to launch yourself towards him.
Two nights ago, my son, Jude, was asleep while Robin and I were watching television downstairs. We heard a sharp shriek, loud and alarming sound off from his crib. Like bolts of lightening we shot up the stairs, hearts pounding. We flipped on the lights and there he was moving quietly sound asleep. It must have been a dream or something, but he was certainly fine. I had the thought, "God rushes like that when we are hurting!" Jude didn't have to "press into me" in order for me to run to his aid. He simply cried. And there wasn't anything wrong! How much more does our Heavenly Father run to us when we are in pain. How much more quickly does he respond, and how much more powerful is his outstretched arm towards us, than ours towards his.
*Photograph taken by Stacy Cross: www.stacycross.com
