Good Oil and Good Wine

By Jenna Dorsch

 There is something that needs to be said about dreams and timing. It is one thing to pursue your dreams, but it is another thing when we force them to happen in order to fulfill some self-spoken prophecy. Pursuing your dreams engages process and welcomes the work needed to see dreams become reality.

It's important to note that forcing things to happen will lead to impatience; impatience kills pursuit. Instead of attaining our goals, we put ourselves through cycles of self sabotage and seriously hurt our chances. I speak from experience, I've been living out the topic for this post for quite some time now.

I had enormous goals, got impatient for success and expected the fruit before its time. My self sabotage began in my head. Since I wasn't seeing progress as soon as I had hoped I began to label myself as a failure. The enemy used this as a tool to stop me from attempting what God had called me to do. Since I was a failure, what was the point in trying.

The good news for me was that I had been trying to cut out the process needed to achieve my goals. Of course this couldn't work. But why is that good news? It's good news because God never left me and even used this moment in my life to teach me about processes Himself.

        Processes have a tendency to be long, uncomfortable and they reveal some things about ourselves that can be difficult. Avoidance then becomes a key player in making sure we are unfulfilled because we are afraid of what might happen.

What if I fail?

What if I’m not strong enough to achieve my goal?

What if I'm not worthy?

Perspective Shift

As a culture, we are so used to being comfortable, that we miss out on opportunities to grow and create lasting change in our lives. Process is viewed as inconvenient and something to eliminate. It's all too common nowadays to look for ways to bypass the struggle and jump right to what our vision of success is.

            Would you start constructing a tower from the middle? No, that would be ridiculous. In order for it to last, it needs to go through stages of being built. The foundation and the framework, etc. Otherwise all you will have in the end is pile of rubble. Continuously trying and trying to build what will never stand has unfortunately become the norm.  

            Living this way is exhausting. We can't stick with one solution for more than five minutes without needing to change the plan because things aren't moving fast enough for our liking; and it's time to switch the focus.

It's not uncomfortable, it's growing pain.

It's not a struggle, it's opportunity.

Joy in The Struggle    

Viewing challenges from the perspective of opportunity can be incredibly freeing. We can approach our situation with joy, knowing that we will not be the same as when we entered into it. We will be stronger, braver, successful (even if we fail a few times to get there) and we will build up resilience. Most importantly, leaning into the Lord will deepen our relationship with Him. We get to discover the love God in a whole new way.

Developing Character      

It's not very often that we see the gruelling tasks undertaken to learn and grow as a person. Developing a skill, building a business, having an impact... all these things take time; loads of it. But why? Why should it be difficult? After all, if God wants us to prosper then why doesn't it just happen? The answer: God is more concerned with the finished product of our character than He is with our momentary satisfaction. 

            Falling prey to empty promises is an easy thing to do, especially during times when we are desperate for answers.  However, anything that is born out of needing a "quick fix" won't bring lasting change.

            Instant gratification should be called as such not for how quickly it comes, but instead for how quickly it goes. All it does is rob us of potential. It's the struggle and the perseverance that bring forth a rich substance.

            The same way that olives are pressed to make oil, and grapes are crushed for the wine, we must be willing to undertake the task of changing shape and submitting to the process. We too will be pressed and tested. If you are wanting to grow, don't be surprised when you are brought to the highest of highs and lowest of lows. God wants us to learn how to find him in all our circumstances. He does this for us, so that we can become strong in our conviction and purpose.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose"

Romans 8:28

The Importance of Servanthood

What does it mean to embrace God's plan the way Jesus did?

He suffered for man, as a man, and His legacy was rising from the dead and paying our debt.

His mission was to take our place and bring us back to the Father. Did He succeed? Yes. Did He struggle to succeed in His mission? YES!

            He was humbled by coming to us as a baby. He struggled when He fasted for forty days in the desert and resisted temptation. He served where God told him to serve. He died for His mission and was brought back to life then seated at the right hand of the Father. Even He had to go through a process before the weight of His destiny fell on him.

The Consequence of Pride 

We are fed lies that we can have anything we want the moment we want it, and that if we chase only passion, we will obtain fame, money, success and fulfillment. I submit this obsessive need to have things go our way right now is impatient and prideful.

            It's essentially saying that we are ready for the weight of the success without even humbling ourselves and carrying the responsibility of servanthood first. Servanthood says, "Ok God, I guide me where I should go." and then it goes where it's told.

            Jesus always went where He knew his Father was calling him to go. He was there to represent the love of God. It was God's will that came first. Obedience unlocked His destiny on Earth.

            On the other side of the spectrum, pride and impatience look for shortcuts; and these shortcuts lead to a lack of character. In the end success won't even satisfy us because we've gained nothing. Not character, not tenacity, not closeness to Christ... nothing but a high that serves no purpose and leaves no legacy.

Time Wasted or Time in Pursuit of Wisdom?

I had this problem (still working through it) where I would feel full of the Spirit and tell Him that all that I had was His. My art, my work, my heart... everything. Later that same day however, I'd be coming up with schemes to get my work in front of the public faster, I'd start leaving God out of the equation even though His plans - which I now know - are bigger than mine.

            I see it now, but I didn't back then, I had a lot of growing to do before I could begin the projects that burned on my heart. That season of my life that I felt like I was wasting, God had put to good use.

            He used that time to meet me where I was and love me how I was. Those months that I wasn't making any headway in my work allowed time for God to do what He needed to so that He could fulfill the desires of my heart in the right timing.

            Putting things on pause to earnestly seek wisdom is never a waste of your time. The common mentality of western culture is that if it's not making you any money, then there is no point in going after it. What we are failing to understand is that there is life in knowledge and wisdom; monetary pay-off is not the end all be all of our lives.

            The Bible says in Proverbs 3 that wisdom holds long life and success, and that her paths are ones of peace. All that is needed for fulfillment is in wisdom, and wisdom is in God. It is creative, joyful, peaceful and discerning.

"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day"

Proverbs 4:18

Operating without wisdom is like trying to fumble your way around an unfamiliar space with the lights off. You'll trip and be unable to see what is causing you to stumble. People often wonder why the projects that they start never come to fruition.

They can't figure out what it is that is tripping them up. Part of the reason we are commanded to seek out wisdom is because it creates lasting success. We can see clearer and make decisions that will aid in reaching our goals and protect us against worldly temptations.  

"Blessed are those who find wisdom and those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold"

Proverbs 3:13-14

God Keeps His Promises

When the Bible says "blessed are those..." it's not simply stating a fact, but instead, it is proclaiming a promise of God. The Lord our God promises us that blessing is coming.

            I'm not sure if someone specific needs to hear this but I feel in my spirit that God wants you to be encouraged. Maybe you've been waiting on some revelation from the Lord or you've been doing your best to follow His lead.

            It's been a long time and you haven't seen His plan revealed in your life yet. God promises that His blessing is coming to you. He will honour your faithfulness. Papa God hasn't forgotten His promise to you.

"God, I pray for my friends who are struggling to see what you are planning.

I command that the spirit of hopelessness to leave in

Jesus name. Lord, I pray that you fill them with your hope.

Amen"

Obedience Breathes Legacy

Good oil and Good wine are not easy to come by. Taking on the task God calls us to can seem daunting. We do not have the bigger picture and leaving our lives in someone else's hands can be downright terrifying. That's why we have to trust, and obey the command, "Don't be afraid".

            We crave certainty. If you play it safe you know that something can work, but that doesn't mean it will reach its full potential. Physical successes don't hold a candle to the eternal rewards our Father has for us. Certainly, things of earth do not last; certainly, God does.

            The Lord promises blessing to those who follow Him. He is our fulfillment and He is our joy. God is eternal, His love is eternal, your legacy will be that of a servant of God. There is no greater honour than this. What better reward in Heaven then to hear Him say..."Well done, my good and faithful servant."