This has been an extremely rough season for me. You know the kind where everything seems to be falling apart and looking like the exact opposite of what God has promised You and what You have been declaring. The scripture that I always stand on for seasons like this is:
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
I always imagine how satisfying the tree of life is. It sits in the Garden of Eden where I can commune freely with God. It sits beside the clear, pure river of life that proceeds from God’s throne. It bears multiple fruits in season and always gives increase. It Provides healing for the nations. (Read Rev. 22)
Thinking about this tree is usually enough to restore my hope and sustain me to keep moving forward. But I have been weary. I’ve been faced with challenges that have worn me out and battles that have left me weak. I’ve cried. I’ve prayed. I’ve prophesied. I’ve declared. I’ve continued to stand on God’s promise over my life. Though I’ve done all I know how to do, things haven’t appeared to change. In fact, the attacks have gotten stronger and I believe the devil has tried to take me and all my children out. Last week while on an outing with all 5 of my children, someone crashed into the back of my car causing it to spin out. The Holy Spirit led me to pray over our travels before leaving that day and I know God was with us. Despite the damage to our car and the scare of the accident, God protected us from hurt. All of us were okay besides some minor neck and back stiffness. They had to keep me in the hospital and monitor the baby (I’m 37 weeks pregnant), all the tests were showing a healthy baby. I come home from the hospital to my family and realize that my 2-year-old isn’t feeling well. She had gotten a contagious virus that would normally take about 10 days to recover from. Jesus! I can’t take anything else. These things were on top of other battles that I have already been facing. There was a give-up in my soul that wanted to overcome me. I needed a word from the Lord!
The next day my husband stayed home with my sick baby so that I could go to church. Worship always brings me to a place where I can hear more clearly from God. I needed to do this without the distractions of my home and children. I was desperate. I prayed all the way to church. I cried out to God and confessed how desperate that I was for His deliverance. I needed Him to speak to me and give me renewed strength.
As I worshipped, I had a vision of olives, grapes, and a diamond. This is something that God has shown me before and I realize the significance of the pressing of each of these items. As I entered into the Spirit, God took me deeper and spoke to me. He told me that I could give up now if I wanted to. Then He asked, “Do you want to be regular olive oil or extra virgin olive oil? Do you want to be regular seedless grapes or big table grapes that have seeds to multiply with as the new wine is produced? Do you want to be a cloudy, dirty diamond with visible imperfections or do you want to be a flawless diamond with crystal clear color and clarity?
God presses us for results that will purify our character. He strengthens us and prepares us for our call and purpose. If we give up before He is finished pressing us, we will never come to the fullness of what He has promised and planned for our lives.
The truth is, for me, given up is not an option. I have no choice but to trust God. He has delivered me from way too much to stop believing Him now. He has proven Himself in my life way beyond my comprehension. I have tried many other solutions, but God is the only thing that has worked. Sometime it is hard to trust what we can’t see, but our faith is what will move mountains and produce miracles.
I encourage you today to not give up. No matter what it looks like right now, God has a plan. Your pressing is going to produce results that not only make you beautiful, but will flow from you to beautify others. I know that hope deferred has made you sick, but you are standing right before your coming desire that will be like a tree of life. The scripture doesn’t say if it comes, it says when it comes. It is a sure thing. God has not changed His mind and the devil can’t win unless you let him by giving up.
I speak strength to your mind, body, soul, and spirit. I speak rest and peace to the chaos around you. Clarity, strategy and wisdom is yours. Let the refreshing winds of the spirit blow and cause the fire of God to burn all discouragement and doubt. Let the voice of the enemy be shut down by the truth of God’s Word. May His love consume you and restore your hope once again. You are who God says you are and will receive all that He has promised. Declare your victory and keep pressing in to Him as He presses you for greatness!
Father, we thank You for your sovereignty. We know that it is you that has authority over all things. Forgive us for wanting to give up and for losing hope. We put our trust in You and look forward to experiencing the tree of life. Help us endure the pressing and not give up until you are finished. We want the end result to be the fullness of Your promise. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
I always imagine how satisfying the tree of life is. It sits in the Garden of Eden where I can commune freely with God. It sits beside the clear, pure river of life that proceeds from God’s throne. It bears multiple fruits in season and always gives increase. It Provides healing for the nations. (Read Rev. 22)
Thinking about this tree is usually enough to restore my hope and sustain me to keep moving forward. But I have been weary. I’ve been faced with challenges that have worn me out and battles that have left me weak. I’ve cried. I’ve prayed. I’ve prophesied. I’ve declared. I’ve continued to stand on God’s promise over my life. Though I’ve done all I know how to do, things haven’t appeared to change. In fact, the attacks have gotten stronger and I believe the devil has tried to take me and all my children out. Last week while on an outing with all 5 of my children, someone crashed into the back of my car causing it to spin out. The Holy Spirit led me to pray over our travels before leaving that day and I know God was with us. Despite the damage to our car and the scare of the accident, God protected us from hurt. All of us were okay besides some minor neck and back stiffness. They had to keep me in the hospital and monitor the baby (I’m 37 weeks pregnant), all the tests were showing a healthy baby. I come home from the hospital to my family and realize that my 2-year-old isn’t feeling well. She had gotten a contagious virus that would normally take about 10 days to recover from. Jesus! I can’t take anything else. These things were on top of other battles that I have already been facing. There was a give-up in my soul that wanted to overcome me. I needed a word from the Lord!
The next day my husband stayed home with my sick baby so that I could go to church. Worship always brings me to a place where I can hear more clearly from God. I needed to do this without the distractions of my home and children. I was desperate. I prayed all the way to church. I cried out to God and confessed how desperate that I was for His deliverance. I needed Him to speak to me and give me renewed strength.
As I worshipped, I had a vision of olives, grapes, and a diamond. This is something that God has shown me before and I realize the significance of the pressing of each of these items. As I entered into the Spirit, God took me deeper and spoke to me. He told me that I could give up now if I wanted to. Then He asked, “Do you want to be regular olive oil or extra virgin olive oil? Do you want to be regular seedless grapes or big table grapes that have seeds to multiply with as the new wine is produced? Do you want to be a cloudy, dirty diamond with visible imperfections or do you want to be a flawless diamond with crystal clear color and clarity?
God presses us for results that will purify our character. He strengthens us and prepares us for our call and purpose. If we give up before He is finished pressing us, we will never come to the fullness of what He has promised and planned for our lives.
The truth is, for me, given up is not an option. I have no choice but to trust God. He has delivered me from way too much to stop believing Him now. He has proven Himself in my life way beyond my comprehension. I have tried many other solutions, but God is the only thing that has worked. Sometime it is hard to trust what we can’t see, but our faith is what will move mountains and produce miracles.
I encourage you today to not give up. No matter what it looks like right now, God has a plan. Your pressing is going to produce results that not only make you beautiful, but will flow from you to beautify others. I know that hope deferred has made you sick, but you are standing right before your coming desire that will be like a tree of life. The scripture doesn’t say if it comes, it says when it comes. It is a sure thing. God has not changed His mind and the devil can’t win unless you let him by giving up.
I speak strength to your mind, body, soul, and spirit. I speak rest and peace to the chaos around you. Clarity, strategy and wisdom is yours. Let the refreshing winds of the spirit blow and cause the fire of God to burn all discouragement and doubt. Let the voice of the enemy be shut down by the truth of God’s Word. May His love consume you and restore your hope once again. You are who God says you are and will receive all that He has promised. Declare your victory and keep pressing in to Him as He presses you for greatness!
Father, we thank You for your sovereignty. We know that it is you that has authority over all things. Forgive us for wanting to give up and for losing hope. We put our trust in You and look forward to experiencing the tree of life. Help us endure the pressing and not give up until you are finished. We want the end result to be the fullness of Your promise. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
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