Under Pressure
Life has moments of pressing in, pushing down, and squeezing. You can feel as if the very life within you will be snuffed out because you can’t seem to come up for air. Those moments can last a few days or drag on for years. I have experienced both. And I know I’m not alone.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8
Olives are pressed to make oil.
Grapes are squeezed to make wine.
Churning milk makes butter.
Squeezing lemons leads to lemonade.
The beginning item isn’t bad; it is useful, but the pressure that is applied to it results in something you can’t have otherwise.
Like me and you.
God doesn’t waste the pressure. He is merciful and only uses the pressing to lead to a result He knows will come. It might take us time to trust that His will is best for us, but we get there eventually. Our enemies press in on us, but God delivers a better result than the one they had planned. Sometimes the things we endure have no explanation this side of heaven, and I know how frustrating that can be.
Our enemies are sometimes people directly, evil forces, this fallen world, and more. We can fight against ourselves, too. Troubles come and squeeze us, but they don’t crush us. They don’t lead us to despair and desperation. Instead, they lead us to Jesus and His mercy. At times of pressure and frustration, I’m thankful that I can grab my Bible and know that Jesus will answer my prayers by reading it. I know where my help comes from.
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! Psalm 121:2
We can press back against the incoming pressure. We can press on to the call of God.
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14
I’m not who I once was. That girl is long gone. That little girl didn’t survive some of the things she endured. She was pressed down, bruised, but not broken. Who I am now is the girl who survived. I am what has come after.
