Most likely in countless bathrooms across this country, there are tubes of tooth paste mangled and distorted lying next to the sink. Even when the tube has been completely flattened out, we still count on there being enough for one last brush, so we squeeze, fold and crimp for that little dab to come out. You paid good money for it, so get as much out as you can. We do that with other things as well, like those squeezable sour cream containers. It says on the back, “Now you can squeeze a dollop of Daisy,” and we might as well because we paid for it.
Many times in life, God does to us what we do to the tubes of tooth paste and sour cream, He squeezes us! When those unexpected trials come and we experience affliction and deep pain, sometimes that’s God squeezing us to get more out of us. And the truth is, we need that spiritual squeeze from time to time. I’m certain that God has put more in you than what He is getting out of you. Think about it, Job got squeezed. Naomi got squeezed. Paul got squeezed. Jesus got squeezed on the cross by the weight of humanity’s sins.
Some squeezable containers get clogged in the narrow openings, so they require being squeezed with a little more pressure. And then there are some that stay free flowing all the time. God wants you to be free flowing requiring only a touch, and the life of Jesus comes out. That only happens by continual surrender and faithful obedience to His will. Some wonder at what God is doing in their lives in times of hardship, and the answer is, He is trying to squeeze some Jesus love and Jesus mercy and Jesus goodness out of you.
Philippians 2:12-13 says, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for [His] good pleasure.”
You have the opportunity to work out what God has already put in you so He doesn’t have to squeeze it out. Are you tender to His touch, or have you become hard and clogged up? If you are a child of God, then He paid for you, so He feels free to get as much out of you as possible.
“Holy Father, I lift up that person right now who is feeling the pressure of your squeeze. God I know that deep pain and heartache, so I plead with you to speak to that person and give spiritual understanding to recognize you and give them power to surrender. Father I pray that they will even recognize how they may be resisting you. I pray that You will move on that person this moment and reveal Yourself to them. Thank you, Father, for Your everlasting mercy and the sufficiency of Your grace. Lord, we give ourselves to You and to the work of reflecting Christ to the world. This we ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.”
Wonderful word