When Life Squeezes You-by Heidi McLaughlin
Posted: August 29, 2021
I squeezed a lot of lemons this summer. Trying to stay fresh during heat waves, smoke from forest fires and lemon water for keeping my summer company hydrated. I squeezed lemons for lemon water, canning peaches, and grilling salmon. The results were always the same; lemon juice came out. But of course, when something is squeezed whatever is on the inside will come out. The Bible puts it this way: “…for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
We’ve been squeezed the last 19 months and it’s a daily struggle. You’re all glued to the news these days so I don’t have to list all the lemons. So how are you dealing with the restrictions, disappointments, polarized opinions and those “other” people that annoy you? Are your true lemon colours showing up? Have you become angry, defensive, blaming, gone into depression or withdrawn? Or do you welcome obstacles, make lemonade and say: “Bring it on!”
“Bring it on!”
As Christians we have Christ in us, transforming us from glory to glory. It’s when we’re squeezed that God is able to do His most glorious work. “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
If you need some help during these tough times, the answers are always in God’s word.
- It’s Ok to be angry but get over it. “Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the devil that kind of foothold in your life” (Ephesians 4:26,27 MSG).
- Don’t Blame. “Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift” (Ephesians 4:29). Seek to understand rather than to be understood (Covey).
- Be kind and forgive even when you don’t feel like it. “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
- Tell God what you need. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God’ peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand” (Philippians 4:6,7).
When you wake up in the middle of the night and your mind is whirling with anger, doubt, confusion and angst, here are a couple of ways you can incorporate some simple but powerful truths.
- Get out of bed and write your problem on a piece of paper. If you love to journal; take the time to write down your emotions and tell God exactly how you feel.
- Change your worry words into prayer words. Here is one example:
Instead of worry and saying: “God, why aren’t you doing something; why is nothing changing?” Say: “God, I know you make everything beautiful in your time.”
“I choose to trust you during this painful time.”
Ask God to help you get started! God will hear your cry of help and give you the wisdom, power and strength to get through this difficult time. And with God’s help one day we will all be able to look back and rejoice and sip some lemonade. Because while we’ve been squeezed, God has been able to make us even more beautiful from the inside out.
2 responses to “When Life Squeezes You-by Heidi McLaughlin”
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Beautiful analogy, Heidi. It made me think of all the lemons I have growing in my backyard in AZ. I’m not sure what would come out if someone squeezes me too hard.
Thanks for your words of wisdom and reminding us of how we should react to all circumstances. We really need to turn our lemons into lemonade. Texas hugs!!