Essential Oils Aren’t God.

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Essential Oils Aren't God | The Elliott Homestead (.com)

I use a lot of essential oils. Like. A lot of them. And I love them.

Let's just all remember that as we continue on in this post, shall we?

As many of you know, I sell and promote essential oils and am happy to do so. I love the company. I love the product. Did I mention I love oils yet?

… that being said…

…(you always know it's about to go down when someone says ‘that being said')…

I got an e-mail from a fellow oil user the other day that really shook my world. In it, she was seeking my advice as to what oil she should use to benefit her mood. But not just any mood. She wanted an oil that would cause happiness, a sense of well-being, peace, harmony, forgiveness – because she had been assaulted and needed some ‘calming' in her life.

And even as an oil user, I literally shouted at my computer screen: YOU DON'T NEED AN OIL. YOU NEED JESUS!

I fear that many have fallen into the ditch of worshiping the creation versus worshiping the creator. Do I believe that God created essential oils? Absolutely. Do I believe in their ability to help in all kinds of circumstances? Of course. But the oils are just that – they are oils.

True well-being does not come from a bottle. Neither does peace, harmony, forgiveness, or frankly – the most important thing of all – belief in Jesus Christ as our one and only Lord and Savior.

I fear that as so many turn to use these oils, they turn their blind eye to the only place in the world where TRUE healing and TRUE forgiveness and TRUE joy can be found. At the foot of the cross.

I use oils around my home for, like, a zillion things every day. I'm telling ya, I so appreciate these oils and the wonderful gifts that myself and many others have found in their uses. Truly, they are a gift from God.

But I can live without God's earthly gifts and that which he has blessed us with in creation.

I CANNOT live without God. 

When I see the great benefit that essential oils can bring to a person's life, I am grateful that we have been given such natural and beautiful tools. I'm ever astonished at creation and how so much of the world is here to aid us – feed us – support us. But creation in and of itself has no power. That power lies within the one, true God who created it to function, move, and breathe as it does. 

If I've got a cut, I'll reach for my oils.

If I've been truly wronged, such as this reader had in her assault, I'll reach for my Bible.

Before the hate emails start pouring in, I assure you that I do believe essential oils can promote calm, promote comfort, and uplift our spirits. But when the diffuser runs dry and the bottle is empty, what have we left? 

The Lord will never leave us. Never forsake us. He will never run out of the ability to comfort His people.

Essential oils are not God. Not even close. And I urge those of you who are in serious need to look to the one place in the entire world where that healing can take place – the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through Christ's perfect life our sins our forgiven. We have been made right in the eyes of a just, powerful, and thrice-holy God. We have the Creator of the universe on speed-dial. He hears our petitions and knows our needs even before we do.

At the foot of the cross is where we will find peace. It's where we will find purpose. It's where we will find ultimate healing.

I thank God for oils – truly, I do. And I will continue to use them each day (their benefits are as numerous as the stars!). 

But God created those stars. 

And to him all Honor is due. 

If you would like to get started in using essential oils, by all means, let's get you started! But let's not forget their place on the food chain.

And Amen.

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Comments:

  1. As a mental health professional who sees the benefit of oils and faith, I’d like to also throw in that someone who is seeking calm and has been a victim of abuse would also really benefit from working with a therapist to help her get what she needs.

    Reply

    • Like oils, one can become dependent, giving too much power to their therapist as well. I did, and was very hurt by the relationship that I had formed with my therapist. This is why the Holy SPIRIT must always be our Go-To, and I believe a great counselor would say the same ❤ May God bless you as you serve Him and His sheep.

      Reply

  3. Amen! Well said ,oils have been used for ages. They help us. But they can’t save us. I personally have many different brands of oils ,pretty much all of them work great A brand is not sacred either. It is a business and a means to a end It’s wonderful that it is a way to also help others. Perspective is always good!!

    Reply

  4. Beautifully written, Shaye! It’s important to seek God’s help first if you are going through a rough time in your life, and I love everything you said. I’m really surprised at how inspirational you are, and hopefully you won’t get too much hate mail (if any). God bless you. 🙂

    Reply

  5. LOVE what you said here! Couldn’t agree with you more about oils and their amazing properties (I personally, just popped some On Guard on my little one’s feet), BUT I agree that we can be so focused on something great and forget the One who created them. I’m in Australia, so over here as I’m starting my day it was a lovely way to be reminded of His love. Thanks 🙂

    Reply

  6. Very good. So many times I hear people promoting whole food and essential oils healing us over the great God who is truly in control of our healing. Thanks for your post!

    Reply

  8. Well said!! I am an oil junkie too… Used together they are so powerful, but so can many other things be… Including modern medicine when used with our full trust in him. Intention is everything. Anyways I am from that ‘other’ oil company and to that I say, “go plants!” And keep up the awesome job of sharing these important messages!!! :)Heather

    Reply

  9. Great article!! This reminds me this morning what I heard on the Christian radio station I was listening to. They said a listener called in and said she was about to move somewhere else until she realized she wouldn’t be able to listen to that station…and she couldn’t survive without that station so she decided not to move!!! All for a radio station?! I wanted to tell her that she can live without a radio station….it’s GOD she can’t live without! Bah…

    Reply

  16. This is spot on with how I think. I have used oils and other natural remedies for healing. But when I give a testimony about it someone and I tell them I prayed particularly for healing of Uterine Fibroids… and I tell them that I’m certain that God lead me to a certain natural remedy. I get @@ — blank stares.
    I’ve had to tell them God healed me… point blank. His provision. His hand.
    I totally get where you’re coming from. Some people just don’t get it’s Jesus that binds up the broken hearted. It’s a band-aid that binds up our superficial wounds… this side of heaven.
    Thanks for writing this.
    — encouraged reading it. 🙂

    Reply

  18. Wonderful post!! I too love essential oils, but we cannot rely on them for happiness and joy, much less salvation. Only God can provide true peace.

    John 14:27
    Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

    Reply

  19. I. Love. This. I love my oils as well but it is the Creator who has gifted them to us. When I look at my garden goodies I always think that without His blessing nothing would grow. I am in Awe. Thanks for writing this. 🙂

    Reply

  22. Amen, Shaye. There’s a fantastic verse in Isaiah 8 that basically says “Don’t be afraid of what the world is afraid of, let God be your fear instead.” This has been helping me out in a huge way, to come out of the place of being surrounded only by natural circumstances, and into the place of being surrounded by a Living God, who sees me, loves me, and IS working everything together for my good.

    Thanks for sayin’ in like it is.

    Reply

  23. Amen. I wish everyone in the oil world (whole word for that matter) could read what you said in such a beautiful way!
    Thank you.

    Reply

  25. Very well said! Thank you so much for this post and for your courage in posting it! I totally agree with you. May the Lord give more of us the strength and wisdom to speak truth.

    Reply

  27. Words of wisdom. I have counseled others on this same line. God is the only one who can bring peace. Thank you for being brave and speaking out.

    Reply

  28. I was just thinking this same thing the other day… I was reading Facebook and everyone was asking about oils and their moods…I am right there with you!!! Oils can help but not give you the everlasting real joy!! Great blog and know there are other people out there just like you with the same thoughts, you just wrote them in beautiful words!!! Thanks for the encouragement!!!

    Reply

  29. Well said. Thank you for this post. None of this would be here if He didn’t place them for our use. Great reminder. Thank you Jesus!

    Reply

  31. HIGH GRADE MAGNESIUM!!!!! It balances out your ATP and my homeopathic doctor recommended it for my anxiety/stress/night tremors. Haven’t had them since!!!!!!!

    Reply

  32. So perfectly said. I totally agree with you. I was actually praying last week that God would make sure that even though tthe oils are amazing, He is the Healer. He gave us these amazing oils but never to be more important than Him. Sometimes I feel people are quick to fix issues with an oil when they really need Jesus and prayer. God Bless you for posting this!!

    Reply

  33. Amen and Amen! Romans 10:9-10. If you declare with your mouth, ” Jesus is Lord.” And believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. For me this is a very great verse for those that is searching. Without Christ the healer nothing satisfies our longing for peace. Keep up the good work on your oils.

    Reply

  35. I love everything you said! I just found your blog from a pin on Pinterest about starting an orchard. My daughter and I are starting an orchard this year. I clicked on this blog about essential oils and to my surprise I found a fellow follower of Christ! I’m so happy to read this post. This made my day! I am interested in essential oils but haven’t taken the plunge yet! So much of what you post just hits home for me. Thank you for such a great blog and support system! I added your blog to my favorites and subscribed to your newsletter. Thank you for such a great encouragement and inspiration!
    Gayl Lang

    Reply

  36. What a BEAUTIFUL article precious lady ! I am going to read it again and again……I agree totally, thank you for speaking the truth, GOD BLESS YOU!

    Reply

  38. Wrong. If you want happiness, you find it in neither essential oils nor God. You find it within, and only within yourself. External sources may lift our spirits, but it is for each of us to make ourselves happy and no other.

    Sorry. Not trying to protest the preachiness of this post, and you’ll probably not let this comment be published. I just think this post sends the wrong message. Maybe not for you, and that’s fine.

    Best of luck to you and your oil loving.

    Reply

    • Here is my experience:
      Happiness comes from outward circumstances/happenings, joy comes from God and remains present in the worst of circumstances, my attitude is my choice entirely and has a great influence on my level of contentment and sense of well-being.

      Reply

  39. I Loved this! There are too few people outspoken enough about Jesus.

    In 2002, a poll of the American people showed around 51% believed Christianity was unimportant to our nation. In 2011, that number had risen to over 70%. How sad!

    Psalms 9:17 (KJV) plainly states “The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations who forget God”

    Thank you for reminding us what this life is all about.

    May Jesus Always be the center of Your Life,

    Karen

    PS: The oils sound intriguing…I’m interested…

    Reply

  41. Wow. I really needed this! Just a few minutes ago I discovered your site and now you are reminding me of something I have already been trying to remind myself: essential oils are a tool, but God is the healing. Thank you for your honesty and your willingness to say it as you see it. I will definitely be sticking around to see what you have to say on more topics.

    Reply

  44. What a courageous and powerful statement Shaye! Only God can truly heal. He created this awesome world and all of its many useful things– including essential oils–to use for His glory.

    Reply

  46. YES!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU! I only dabble in oils – not an expert user. But, I have been very concerned that many believers are relying on oils to do what God can only do in their hearts! He is the giver of all good gifts but anytime we elevate the gifts above the Giver – there is is something amiss!
    Thanks for posting what I have been thinking!

    Reply

  47. Fantastic! I am new to oils and just stumbled upon your post via Pinterest. But you totally addressed one of my concerns. I know too many oil fans who basically worship the oils. They are consumed by them and seek them first above all else. But as you said, they need Jesus!

    Reply

  49. I’ve just started following your blog (looking for inspiration to support my husband’s recent farming obsession)! This post sealed my fan-dom. 🙂 My family calls these the “Jesus And” theologies — “Jesus And” homeschooling, “Jesus And” natural birth/breastfeeding, “Jesus And” a Republican record, “Jesus And” a Sunday-perfect family, “Jesus And” alternative medicines. All of these things may be truly wonderful, but they are non-essentials. Worse, they alienate people who can’t follow them, for whatever reason. Anyone can always choose to call out to Jesus! That is the one essential choice. No one needs to be left out.

    Reply

  51. Can I just say how much I appreciate this, Shaye?! You hit the nail on the head. Only Jesus can fill your soul, not some oil from a bottle.

    Reply

  52. Hi. Just saw your homestead website for the first time. Was really feeling stretched, done, and used…after going all day cleaning, cooking, and then finding out about a hour before dark that night temp was to be below 35 degrees and lots in the garden had to be covered or lost. I dove in, covered what I could and harvested what I could not. Did I mention I had not started dinner yet? After dinner I cleaned for dehydrating the many herbs I had harvested. Final at 11:30 pm I am taking a break. Also, did I mention it is Sunday? Praise God I sat with my husband for worship this morning. All this said, I wanted to mention that it was a blessing to see your post about “I can’t do it all”. I thank Jesus for letting me know how much He loves me in spite of my short comings, and how much He is God and I am not…and He knows that! and has grace overflowing! Thanks for speaking truth. God bless you this fine day that He has made.

    Reply

  54. At the risk of sounding redundant, AMEN!! I have long felt the same way. God led me to essential oils, and the business of building a team…. Trust me, I fought it, I was certain that Women’s Ministry was my course. I continue to ask… Really God? Especially in the face of an onslaught of New Age offerings surrounding me. but the continues to lead to hold my course stady towards a vision of a team that glorifies god. It is so encouraging to know that I’m not alone in my quest to uphold our creator, The God of the Universe. His timing is perfect in bringing your truth, boldness and encouragement across my path.

    Reply

  55. I’m curious what you told her. God provides essential oils, and pointed her to your blog. Support and encouragement can go a long way to help someone recover from trauma, and build their faith. Shouting “YOU NEED GOD” would be like smacking someone in the face with the bible- which doesn’t necessarily inspire people to read it.

    Reply

    • Amen to Leslie!!!

      Also…

      There are many rivers to the same ocean – as in many Paths to the same Source, to the Creator and not simply that of Yeshua. I note that the advice given (and the glory!) Is to the prophet / teacher Yeshua (Jesus) and not to that of The Creator. This (IMO) smacks of the very idolatry that is strongly condemned in the (Hebrew era) Old Testament, the Talmud, the Torah, and even the Christian New Testament.

      A sexual assault victim needs a LOT more than simply prayer and “belief” (and what if this – or some other such victim) was Jewish or Hindu or Buddhist, etcetera?). They are going to need more than Essential.Oils (though application of the correct ones can be helpful). They are going to need therapy, possibly pharmaceutical medication assistance for a time, the help provided by a support group, support by family and friends, law enforcement and the criminal justice system, etcetera.

      Not simply “slapped in the face” with a (Christian) Bible and shouted at that YOU NEED TO TURN IT OVER TO JESUS”…. (while the choir chants “Amen”.

      BTW, a news article in Huffington Post today showed that cannabinoids in Marijuana (another GIFT of The Creator) was exceptionally effective in treating Post Traumatic Shock Disorder (PTSD) – more so than any current treatment medications!

      Reply

    • I think Shaye has shown herself more compassionate than that. But at the same time, she recognizes that there is only so much that she can offer.

      Thank you so much for this post, Shaye! I know it’s an older one, but I have just discovered it today, and I agree with every word you said! Blessings

      For His Glory,
      Crystal

      Reply

  56. Thank you so much for writing this. EXACTLY how I feel. While I love to use the oils and do untilize them daily in our home, I feel many people have made them to be a god. In researching one company to decide if I want to join them, I read that one oil ‘promotes forgiveness’. I then had my answer. When people begin using oils and blends to take the place of GOD and the Holy Spirit in their lives, I believe they are heading down a dangerous path. Thanks again.

    Reply

  57. Kudos to your straight forward answer to this lady. You are a Romans 1:16 person: (For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.) A lot of people need to be smacked in the face with the Bible. Everyone needs to get out of their ‘comfot zone’ and search the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A seed must be planted before it grows and you never know what your words may have triggered in this lady. You are an inspiration to many people. So glad you have the “guts” to do this on your website. Keep up the good work.

    Reply

  58. I agreed with you wholeheartedly up until this:

    “I assure you that I do believe essential oils can help to calm, help to comfort, and help to uplift our minds. ”

    Our minds are our responsibility. If people are reaching for an oil first to uplift their minds and moods they are wrong. Gods work makes it very plain in His word what we are to do when it comes to our worry, distress, etc:

    2 Corinthians 10:5
    “we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

    Philippians 4:6-7
    “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

    (God Himself promises to GUARD our MINDS and hearts if we what…. put on an oil? No. If we pray to Him. )

    2 Corinthians 10:3-6
    “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”

    (again our responsibility is on US to take every thought captive to over Christ)

    Ephesians 4: 23
    “and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

    (again… responsibility on US to renew our minds. Not put on an oil to help us calm our minds)

    2 Corinthians 10:5
    “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”

    (seeing a recurring command here? TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE. That’s our job. Not to turn to an oil to help get us there first.

    Colossians 3:2
    “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

    So do I believe that oils can be amazing and God can use them to bring healing, yep I’ll agree there. But if my heart is heavy, if my mind is conflicted, if I am worried or distressed I will #1) Pray #2) Read God’s word and those 2 things alone are sufficient to comfort and lift me up. It is my responsibility with God’s help to renew my mind, present my requests to God and to not worry. No oil can help with that and if we are turning to an oil first we aren’t obeying God’s word.

    But I loved everything else you said. I have a sister in law (claims to be saved, but only God knows) who literally worships this stuff. And yet she’s depressed, suicidal and wondering why she can’t get control of her health when in reality she should be walking in victory in what Jesus did for her at the cross. I think there are some whom oils can be a major stumbling block, however helpful. Anything we turn to FIRST before God is a false idol.

    Reply

  59. Just have to jump in here in defense of the one who emailed you. Yes you are correct that oils are not God and we all for certain need Jesus to do His miracles in our life. But I know for certain when you are down an out, sick’ lost, depressed, and down right hopeless feeling, a scent from essential oils can offer a lift. Sometimes we can get so low we cant call on Jesus or maybe someone doesn’t know to call on Him. I know I have been in both of those places needing help unable to fathom how and unable due to my lack of faith to call on Him. I know Jesus says if you are sick to seek an elder to be anointed with oil. That anointing wasn’t just a little rub of oil on the forehead, it was more like a full on rub with oils. Much as a massage person would give. I have noticed as I study about God that He was very pleased with a “sweet smelling aroma” whether from food or oils or the righteous actions of His people and their prayers. I also have noticed as I study about essential oils, that so very very many of the oils that are healing physically and mentally smell so very amazing and CAN indeed be uplifting physically mentally and spiritually. In fact some oils are used for the spiritual lift. They indeed are not God the Father nor Jesus the Son of God but they can assist in a manner to give strength to lift up a cry for help. I feel she asked you for that. She may not know how to reach up and pray so we will have to do that for her but I know an amazing mixture I use is very useful and up lifting for me personally and the side benefits is all the anti bacterial, anti fungal anti what evers in the oil are a huge bonus. Seems like parasites don’t like a sweet aroma. I don’t think bad feelings do either. Oils are not God but they can super help to ease her feelings so she can actually cry out. Blessings

    Reply

  60. Love Love Loved reading this and most of the comments. No way you got hate mail! Thank you for honouring our Lord and Saviour and His gifts to the earth!

    Reply

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