There are popular videos on the Internet of people crushing items with an industrial hydraulic press. Some items are more resilient than others. The ridged items will break, and the malleable things squish and change shape. Clay is moldable while being worked. However, when left alone, clay will become hard and brittle and no longer able to be changed. These physical examples have spiritual comparisons. The Bible refers to a marred piece of clay that the potter smashed down to start over. The often-taught lesson from this story is to stay on the potter's wheel to allow Him to mold us into something He wants. We experience pressing in life. Sometimes, this pressure comes from the world and sometimes from God.The pressing from God can produce something beautiful. We often do not see that until after the pressing is over. Are we receptive to the pressing and molding that God has for us? Do we push back against God's pressure? Pharo pushed back and did not respond to the pressure of the plagues. The Bible says God hardened his heart. The word in Hebrew indicates that God removed His hand. As we saw above, when the potter removes his hand, the clay becomes hard, brittle, and easily broken. The hydraulic press videos demonstrate another aspect of pressing things. If you press hard enough, whatever is inside will come out. Pressure and difficulty will show what we are made of. How we respond will make the difference. Is the pressure in our lives producing what we want? Are we happy with what comes out while we are under pressure?