The dial on a washing machine indicates settings for which clothing should be washed. There are GENTLE and PERMANENT PRESS. Some may also have settings for COLOR, WHITE and DARK.
During most weeks we use each of the cycles to get the best clean for our clothes and to help them last longer and look and feel good.
I believe God uses our life in much the same way.
There are days He must treat us GENTLE because we are suffering. His heart breaks when He sees us suffer but just like parents discipline their children and hurt to see the consequences of the children’s actions, God knows that sufferings bring on learning and growth opportunities.
There are other days we feel as though we are being PERMANENTLY PRESSED on all sides. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:8 “we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
He blesses us with days full of COLOR including joy, peace, sunshine and laughter. There are days He allows sin to make us feel DARK and lonely. But we have the promise and the peace that Jesus washed us WHITE as snow when He died for us.
Yes, we all feel PERMANENTLY PRESSED some days, full of COLOR other days, and DARK some days. But the good news is that we can always feel the GENTLE touch if we seek the sweet presence of God.
Won’t you let Him give you a good cleaning by washing, soaking, rinsing and wringing you with His love today? We will never feel so crisp and clean!!
