The 1965 song “Pushin’ Too Hard” was song by the rock group The Seeds and was written by vocalist Sky Saxon in 15 minutes while he waited for his girlfriend to finish shopping. The lyrics are often interpreted by some to refer to his girlfriend controlling him or as his rant against the control of society. In any case it was a song about wanting to be free and live a life of fun. The facts are we don’t live in that kind of world.
The day I assisted my daughter in the delivery room for our granddaughter’s birth the words of the song came to mind. There wasn’t a lot of fun going on – just a baby who defiantly wanted to be set free. As women know who have given birth, the urge to start pushing the baby out can overtake your sense of control just before your cervix becomes fully dilated and it takes an enormous amount of concentration, control, and breathing to stop your body from pushing. I have likened it to telling someone who is about to vomit to hold it in while someone slugs you in the gut. If you start pushing before the cervix is at that magic number of 10 centimeters then it works against you and the baby goes back up the birth canal. The opening is just not big enough yet and your pushing is useless and ineffective.
Also, women have to learn to control their pushing so to not tear the delicate skin that has been stretched. Many times the doctors have to cut the skin (an episiotomy) as this heals better than a natural rip if the woman cannot control her pushing.
Herein lies many lessons for us all – and especially for women on pushing our needs, desires, careers, and personal agendas on people or in situations they are passionately involved in. Women who have learned to control their pushing and know when to take a breath get a lot further in their personal life, in their work, and give birth to more successful projects. So how do we take control when our emotions are ready to spew? Jesus said it best in Luke 22:42 – “Not my will but yours’’ and Matt. 6:10 – “Your kingdom come Your will be done.” Jesus came to us in obedience to the Father and His focus, mission, and choices never wavered. When Jesus was summoned to heal Lazarus John 11:1-44 he waited. Those around him compelled him to go but still he waited. Why? He had a bigger vision and a bigger level of trust that he wanted to build in his disciples and in us who now read the account in the Bible. Are you trusting Him in life and death situations?
Psalms 39:7-9: “And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the foolish. I have become mute, I do not open my mouth, because it is You who have done it.”
Do you have someone or something in your life that seems impenetrable, impossible, or hopeless? Maybe it’s time to take a breath, stop pushing and let God take over. It’s the most unnatural thing to do but it’s exactly what God wants you do.
You’re pushin’ too hard…….!
