In the Crushing

April 2021

While shopping, I was drawn to a wooden mortar and pestle. Since it was highlighted to me in such a profound way, I purchased it. I knew the Lord was speaking to me through the wooden object.

I brought the mortar and pestle home and sat it on a shelf. I often felt the Holy Spirit drawing me to the object. The draw was so distracting that I put it in a drawer for a day or two until I was able to focus, lock away, and hear what the Holy Spirit was speaking to me through the object.

I was finally able to get alone with the Lord and seek His heart about the wooden set. In my secret place with Him, I placed the object in my eye view as I researched its definition and function.

According to Wikipedia, “the mortar and pestle are implements used since ancient times to prepare ingredients or substances by crushing and grinding them into a fine paste or powder in the kitchen, laboratory, and pharmacy. The mortar is a bowl and the pestle is a heavy and blunt club-shaped object. The substance to be ground, which may be wet or dry, is placed in the mortar, where the pestle is pressed and rotated onto it until the desired texture is achieved.

Mortars and pestles were traditionally used in pharmacies to crush various ingredients prior to preparing an extemporaneous prescription. Mortars are also used in cooking to prepare wet or oily ingredients such as guacamole, hummus and pesto (which derives its name from the pestle pounding), as well as grinding spices into powder.

Good mortar and pestle-making materials must be hard enough to crush the substance rather than be worn away by it. They cannot be too brittle either, or they will break during the pounding and grinding. The material should also be cohesive, so that small bits of the mortar or pestle do not mix in with the ingredients. Smooth and non-porous materials are chosen that will not absorb or trap the substances being ground. The use of mortar and pestle, pestling, offers the advantage that the substance is crushed with low energy so that the substance will not warm up.”

“The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.” Numbers 11:8 (ESV)

Therefore, the crushing and pressing happens to make a substance taste better, easier to digest, or to change it’s form in order to be used in a new and different way. I feel many have been going through a spiritual and physical crushing these past few months. If this is you, be encouraged. Through the grinding process, something good will come out.

Many have allowed the Lord to take them step-by-step through the hard pressure in order to grind, blend, and crush their selfish desires to become a moldable product to be used for His new and fresh work. Others may feel like they are just starting the crushing process. No matter where you are in your journey with the Lord, I encourage you to yield and surrender to the crushing so He can make you into something of good use. Become an empty vessel and allow Him to mold you into His likeness so you can be used for His purpose.

“Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.” Proverbs 27:22 (ESV)

I love chickpeas, but I love hummus even more. The chickpeas had to be crushed in order to become a creamy, smooth, spreadable substance that many enjoy. If the chickpea never went through a mushing, crushing, pressing process, it would never be able to be used as a hummus dip or spread easily. It’s the same substance, but different consistency.

The same thing is true for Christ followers who surrender to the crushing process. Jesus is still at the center, the core, the heart, but as they allow the pressing to take place they become a smoother, more spreadable, moldable substance that the Lord can use. It’s a process that takes us into deeper walks with the Lord. From drinking spiritual milk as a baby, to eating mushy baby food, then eating tiny toddler bites, but the end goal is to eat a big, thick steak.

“For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature...” Hebrews 5:13-14 (ESV)

Everyone tolerates different foods at different stages in their walk with the Lord, but the goal is always to eat the mature meat. We must continue to allow the process to crush us so we can go deeper in Him and eat more extravagant foods. Oftentimes, when we think we’re ready for the meaty meal, boom, the pressing happens again so we can digest a hardier diet in and through Him. Sometimes we even have to learn how to chew the food correctly so it can pass more effectively as we get upgraded to more elaborate spiritual meals.

Crushing sounds like a negative word, but it is not a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it is one of the most loving processes our Heavenly Father takes us on—to know Him more and become more like Him. We must not be satisfied with just being a chickpea alone, but desire to be the smooth, yummy hummus. We must not be satisfied drinking milk out of a bottle or eating applesauce and mashed potatoes with a toddler spoon, but actively long for the hardy, meaty, juicy steak.

When we feel the pressing and crushing around us—we should allow ourselves to actively die to self and surrender. Quickly wave the white flag of surrender and let Him crush us and mold us to be like Him. To be like Him should be our ultimate goal as we take steps toward the prize.

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8 (ESV)

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 (ESV)

When you feel the pressure of the crushing beginning, I encourage you to get alone with Jesus somewhere quiet and listen for His still small voice to guide you. Dig deep into the Word and allow His voice through the scriptures to wash over you. Allow Him to bathe you in His grace and ease to lessen the blow of the crushing.

Yes, the crushing may still be uncomfortable, but it is necessary if you want to know Him more. In the crushing, greatness is made. In the pressing, precious gems come forth. In the mush of what feels like a mess, miracles are manifested. I challenge you to lean into the crushing instead of running from the process. As you fall into the process with Jesus and allow Him to mold you, He will take you to new levels in your relationship with Him.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 (ESV)