06/02/2026
06-02-26 … Footprints … “Crushing Grapes”I recently came across a post on social media that stopped me in my tracks: “Grapes must be crushed to make wine. Diamonds form under pressure. Olives are pressed to release oil. Seeds grow in darkness. Whenever you feel crushed, under pressure, pressed, or in darkness, you’re in a powerful place of transformation. Trust the process. Trust God.”There is so much truth in those words. It reminds me of a story called "The Crushing, the Pressing, and the Bloom."There was once a young woman named Eliana who felt forgotten by God. Her life had become a series of closed doors and relentless trials. She had lost her job, her health was fragile, and the weight of past mistakes pressed on her spirit like stones. One evening, in the stillness of her despair, she whispered through tears, "God, where are You? Why must everything hurt?"That night, she dreamed she was standing in a vast vineyard under a golden sky. A voice—warm, deep, and unmistakably divine—spoke from the air. "Do you see the grapes, Eliana?" She saw the heavy, purple fruit hanging from the vine. "They must be crushed to become wine—sweet, strong, and lasting. Your soul goes through the crushing not to destroy you, but to release the divine within you."The scene shifted to a deep cavern where diamonds shimmered in the walls. "These diamonds formed under unimaginable pressure, hidden in the dark," the voice continued. "What is precious is often formed where no eyes can see. Do not fear the weight—it is shaping you."Then came the gnarled olive trees. She watched as olives were pressed until golden oil flowed into a stone basin. "Your anointing, your strength, and your wisdom flow only through the pressing."Finally, she stood before a quiet bed of soil. A single seed lay buried, alone and unseen. "Seeds must be buried in darkness before they can grow. Your season of silence is not death—it is planting. What looks like delay is preparation for the bloom."Eliana woke with tears on her face, but they were no longer tears of sorrow. She understood now: The crushing was not punishment; it was transformation. The pressure was not abandonment; it was craftsmanship. The pressing was not cruelty; it was a calling. And the darkness was not the end—it was the beginning.When we are in the middle of a trial, looking toward the "other end of the tunnel" is rarely our first instinct. Human nature defaults to self-preservation. When we feel threatened by physical pain, mental anguish, or spiritual warfare, we instinctively build walls.While we aren't meant to simply roll over, we must learn to navigate these seasons prayerfully. It is often through suffering that we learn our greatest lessons. James, the half-brother of Jesus, understood this deeply when he wrote:“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)It’s worth remembering that James didn’t always believe his brother was the Savior. John 7:5 tells us, “For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” Imagine the struggle of having Jesus as an older brother—someone with perfect intellect, flawless wisdom, and a moral compass that never wavered. Living in that shadow must have been incredibly difficult.Yet, after the Resurrection, James was there in the Upper Room, worshipping with the disciples. Imagine the revelation: the brother he played with, slept beside, and ate with was actually his Lord. I imagine James felt tremendous guilt reflecting on those years of unbelief. He had been like that seed in the story—living in darkness for years even while the "Son" was his playmate—until the appointed time came for him to grow into a pillar of the Church.If you are praying for a loved one to turn toward the Light, don’t give up! Jesus likely prayed for His siblings for thirty years before they saw the truth.God moves us from experience to experience to "grow us up." As we yield to His methods, He finds greater ways to use the talents He gave us. He is always working, watching, and wooing us to Himself—preparing us to receive what He has already prepared for us. As Jesus said in John 15:"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."So, if you find yourself being crushed, pressured, or kept in the dark—remember: you are in a powerful place. Expect transformation. Trust the process. Trust God.Shalom… Shalom…Joan 😊
