We Are Hard Pressed on Every Side, But Not Crushed.

Almost as soon as I finish one post, I pull up my next image to begin thinking about the next. I’m always excited as I go to my “photo-a-day” folder to see what’s in store.

Since my posts are about hope, virtually every one ends with a positive message. Sometimes the next photo continues that positivity. Sometimes it takes me back to a not so happy time.

I remember taking this picture while my wife was driving. I took it because on that particular day I felt hemmed in. The early morning commute to work bordered on drudgery. Instead of anticipating the good things that might get accomplished, I imagined everyone around me sitting in their vehicles, crawling to work, school, or other appointments like programmed robots. Everywhere I looked seemed to be shrouded in dark, edging closer to nowhere.

Pretty depressing start to the day wasn’t it?

Hopefully, you don’t feel that way. Or, do you?

If you do, rest assured, that is nothing new to mankind. About 2,000 years ago, a man on a mission described his recent efforts as resulting in being hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. He went on to remind his readers even in the middle of those experiences, he was not defeated. Let’s see how he put it.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, NASB)

How does that happen? How can someone take those blows and not give up?

He must have been super-human. Clearly more than you or me. A mere mortal can’t live that way.

Not on their own, they can’t. The man, Paul, was just like you and me. He had no more physical, mental, or emotional stamina than any of us today. Earlier he had described himself and his friends as jars of clay. You know what that means if you have pottery. We have lots of pottery and I tiptoe around it. We have several pieces on our dining room table and when I move them, I make sure I use both hands and that they are steady before I release them. I do this because they are fragile.

Paul knew he was fragile. I am fragile. You are fragile.

And even so, when hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down, we do not have to be defeated. Paul wasn’t, because Jesus renewed him day by day.

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Jesus offers daily renewal to you, too. Trust Him. Here’s a tip from Paul from verse 18.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

I pray Paul’s encouragement and God’s power give you hope today that no matter your trial, you do not feel defeated.

How about you? Do you have tips of hope for others? We’d love to hear them.

Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.