Living Within the Winepress

I confess it’s not the grapes that came to my mind. I confess it wasn’t even the wine. It was the winepress – that incredible device used to extract juice from the crushed grapes during the wine making process.

My small attempt at what most would not even call research uncovered the fact that although there are many styles of presses used by winemakers, their functionality is the same. Each press exerts controlled pressure in order to free the juice from the crushed grape. If the pressure is not controlled, the seeds within the grape will be crushed, releasing an undesirable, bitter thing known as tannin.

I have recently felt I was living within the winepress.

I was pressed down.

I was discouraged in my soul.

I longed for the Word of God to rush over me, to come forth from within me, but my mind would recall nothing.

I felt trapped within my own despair and fear, longing to come out of the gloom, but unable to fight the fight I knew was before me.

So I cried out for intercessors. I cried out for encouragement, and I was reminded that David encouraged himself in the Lord.

How, Lord? How, when my mind is thinking on everything except Your living, active word?
I prayed that God would raise up intercessors, and someone to speak the Word over me.

I prayed that God would bring to my mind all that had ever been spoken to me, as Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would do.

I believed it would be as I asked.

And the day took a turn of events at that moment that I long to remember in order to feed on God’s faithfulness when I am again in a place of despair…

My husband called – just to tell me he loved me – and then to pray over me – over our marriage and family. The tears flowed, as I recalled my own prayer just minutes before.

The first client in the door called his wife to have her talk to me about something I was facing – surgery – that had my mind in turmoil. She was one week out from having had the same surgery for the second time. While we talked, he sat on the couch in my office and prayed. And at the end of the conversation, she assured me she would be praying for me, and I believed her words were true.

A trip to the Post Office put me in touch with a security guard who had lost his father to death the night before, and the tears flowed again, as I knew that I was not the only one facing situations that called for encouragement and prayer. . .situations that dared to crush more than a hope.

A couple from church entered the PO during our conversation, ushering in laughter – enough to lighten my heart momentarily.

And then I was left alone with the postmaster…a believer and sister in the faith. She spoke of all God had done for her, and of how she was encouraged by His faithfulness, and then she began to quote the word over her own life, and I was standing and listening, receiving it into my own. Strength was returning, and the tears flowed. She stopped, cupped her hands over mine, and told me she would be praying for me. I was speechless.

Six divine appointments within a few hours of my request. God faithfully, tenderly, lovingly applied salve to my weary and fretful heart.

God, You are so faithful, and so good.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed – 2 Corn. 4:8

Controlled pressure from the winepress . . . enough to release the juice but not spoil the flavor of the wine.

Tell me that God does not care about the smallest of details.

Tell me He is not directing our steps.

TELL ME!

I won’t believe you.

In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3