God’s Pressure Cooker

Sometimes we go through experiences that make us feel like we are in a pressure cooker!

Of late I have developed an interest in cooking competitions, especially those that feature the task of cooking a high-end meal in a short time! Anyway – during one episode, one cook put some meat in his pressure cooker and left it there to cook. That sounds like what anyone would normally do, right? In his case, however, he was quite frazzled because he needed the meat to cook perfectly. This cook intended to take it out at the last minute when he was sure it would be just right – not undercooked, and not overcooked! Can you imagine the pressure he was feeling? The most stressful part was he could not stop the pressure cooker to see how the meat was doing. He had to trust and hope that when he opened the lid at the last minute, he would find a perfectly cooked piece of meat.

Have you ever felt like God has put you in a pressure cooker, where he cooks you slowly until the last minute when he removes the lid and lets you out? I have been there more times than I can count! Usually, when I have been asking God for direction in a particular area, the more I ask, the hotter it gets inside there! It often takes days, yes, days of crying out to Him and waiting for Him to act. Then finally, when things have gotten really hot and I feel like I will burst, God answers my prayer.

Elijah faced some ‘pressure cooker’ moments too. Just after scoring a huge victory against the prophets of Baal, he feared for his life and ran away, taking shelter under a broom tree in the wilderness. God sent him food twice while he was there and then instructed him to journey for 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb. Can you imagine what could have been going through Elijah’s mind as he walked?

“How much further do I have to walk before you speak to me, Lord?”

“Why do I have to go all the way to Mount Horeb to hear your voice?”

“Why is the life of a prophet so difficult and lonely?”

“Lord, where are you???”

Elijah finally got to the mountain and made himself comfortable in a cave, or so he thought…

‘There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”’ (1 Kings 9:9 ESV)

Elijah answered…

“I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”  (1 Kings 19:10 ESV)

And the Lord answered…

“Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” (1 Kings 9:11 ESV)

At this point, I would have freaked out… stand before the Lord? This is God we are talking about!

Then, all of a sudden…

“Whoosh!” A strong wind tore the mountains and broke rocks into pieces, but the Lord was not there.

Elijah rushed to the back of the cave, scared out of his mind. “What’s going on? Why can’t I hear the Lord?” he thought.

“Crash!” A huge earthquake rocked the ground that Elijah stood on, but the Lord was not there.

What a stressful situation to be in! Wind! An Earthquake! If I was in Elijah’s shoes, I would be asking one question – “Where is the Lord?”

Then a burst of flames appeared, burning up everything in its path, but the Lord was not there.

“What is all this,” Elijah must have asked himself. “How come I can’t hear the Lord in all this? Why did I have to come all this way?”

He had witnessed great displays of God’s power, but he still could not hear His voice. What a confusing place to be!

Then there was a whisper. A tiny whisper. Elijah walked out of the cave, eager to hear what the voice was saying.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:14 ESV)

This time Elijah was glad to hear this question. He knew that God was there with him. Finally, his ‘pressure cooker’ season was coming to an end.

Sometimes when we are going through periods of intense pressure we find it very hard to hear what God is saying. I often find it hard to hear God at this point because my mind is bombarded by voices inside and around me, voices that offer better and faster solutions. Well, here’s the good news. God will keep you in the pressure cooker until you are ready to listen to Him and obey Him. He will keep you there as He watches you change from the tough piece of meat to a piece of meat worthy of a fine dining experience. The question is – are you willing to wait that long? Are you willing to go through the experience regardless of how long it takes?

Job is another person who went through God’s pressure cooker. This is what he declared while in the midst of that trial.

“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.” (Job 23:10 NLT)

Are you willing to wait long enough to see what God is doing in your life? Are you willing to let Him perfect you, even if it is a long and painful process? It’s my prayer that you and I will trust God enough to let Him walk with us during our ‘pressure cooker’ moments because when they come to an end, we will have been changed into what He wants us to be.