Joy in the Pressure Cooker of Life
When I was a little girl, my mother often made chicken and dumplings for dinner--a southern family favorite. To begin preparation of the meal, mom would first take a whole chicken and place it in an old-fashioned pressure cooker with some water and place it on the stove.
I remember vividly the sound of what I liked to call the "screamer" on top of the pressure cooker. When the heat and pressure of the steam became strong enough, the screamer would shake and rattle uncontrollably, and, then make a screaming sound indicating it was time to remove the chicken. My mother would don a potholder to protect her hand, and carefully remove the hot, angry screamer from the top of the pressure cooker. She would then remove the lid to inspect the contents inside--soft, warm, tender and beautiful. The chicken was cooked just right. Mother would say, "You just can't get the same beautiful result without the pressure cooker."
Our lives are like that chicken. When we become cold and hardened, often the only way to make the contents of our heart soft, warm, tender and beautiful again is through the pressure cooker of life. We tend to shake, rattle, and make all kinds of screaming sounds when faced with the pressures of life. Yet, if we will look to God in the midst of it all, we can see the glorious work He is accomplishing in and through us. The beauty is revealed after the screamer is removed.
Do you feel as though you are a chicken in the pressure cooker of life? Is your screamer a bit out of control? You can find joy even when sitting in the midst of the pressure cooker if you will spend some time in God's Word.
The Bible says, "As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands." Psalm 119:143 NLT
May the contents of your heart become soft, warm, tender, and beautiful again through God's Word. And, may you have the best day you've ever had in your life.
I remember vividly the sound of what I liked to call the "screamer" on top of the pressure cooker. When the heat and pressure of the steam became strong enough, the screamer would shake and rattle uncontrollably, and, then make a screaming sound indicating it was time to remove the chicken. My mother would don a potholder to protect her hand, and carefully remove the hot, angry screamer from the top of the pressure cooker. She would then remove the lid to inspect the contents inside--soft, warm, tender and beautiful. The chicken was cooked just right. Mother would say, "You just can't get the same beautiful result without the pressure cooker."
Our lives are like that chicken. When we become cold and hardened, often the only way to make the contents of our heart soft, warm, tender and beautiful again is through the pressure cooker of life. We tend to shake, rattle, and make all kinds of screaming sounds when faced with the pressures of life. Yet, if we will look to God in the midst of it all, we can see the glorious work He is accomplishing in and through us. The beauty is revealed after the screamer is removed.
Do you feel as though you are a chicken in the pressure cooker of life? Is your screamer a bit out of control? You can find joy even when sitting in the midst of the pressure cooker if you will spend some time in God's Word.
The Bible says, "As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands." Psalm 119:143 NLT
May the contents of your heart become soft, warm, tender, and beautiful again through God's Word. And, may you have the best day you've ever had in your life.
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