Under Pressure-Devotional

I was crushed…so much so that I despaired even of life, but that was to make me not rely on myself, buy on the God who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:8-9) 

What other faith in this world expresses such experiences in truth such as this scripture? Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake for when I am weak, than I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10) Or, how about this one?…

God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty (1 Corinthians 1:17) or this… He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increase power (Isaiah 40:29). This amazing poem sums up these incredible moments of weakness in our live:

Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length;

Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond strength;

Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,

Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll

Pressure by foes, and a pressure from friends

Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.

Pressed into knowing no helper but God;

Pressed into loving the staff and the rod

Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;

Pressed into faith for impossible things.

Pressed into living a life in the Lord,

Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured.