Everyday as we go about in our life, we face pressures from every angle, yet we are not crushed. We are puzzled but not in despair, we may be mistreated or misunderstood but we do not give up. We may be struck down but we are not destroyed. We are always up and about doing the work of our Lord, that the life of Jesus also may be made noticeable in our attitudes, habits, actions and behaviours.
There are several ways we can face the pressure of life.
The way many try to handle pressure is by "screaming" and "flailing" about. It may result in someone rescuing you but most likely it will not be a long-term solution.
Another approach is that of the apostle Paul's. Paul realized that the pressure of life was only temporary and he also saw and understood an amazing thing. What Paul could see and understood was that the more pressure he was under the more of Christ that was evident in his life. The weaker Paul became physically the stronger he became spiritually as the Lord manifested Himself in Paul's life (John 14:21).
What hope do you have?
Who will help you in your time of trouble?
Who will sustain you when the pressure is becoming stronger and stronger?
The writer of Hebrews says, "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?'" We must look beyond this world and remember that just as our Lord Jesus was victorious and rose again - so will we who know Him as our Savior. We may be hard-pressed but through the great sacrifice of our Lord we will never be destroyed.
So the next time you are tempted to start screaming and flailing about remember that your Lord is with you and He will never ever forsake you.
2 Corinthians 4 : 8-11
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
(0731 10X2008)