CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 789

“Hard Pressed”

2 Cor 4:6-9 (NIV)       For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

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One of the most frustrating moments in the game of chess is when your opponent clearly has the upper hand and is pressing you deeper into a corner with each move.  It is only a matter of a few more moves before you are defeated.

Life’s circumstances can also continually press us to the point we feel we are being backed into a corner and about to be defeated.  Sometimes, we have long periods of peace and rest between crisis circumstances and other times the challenges seem to come upon us wave after unrelenting wave.

Do you feel backed into a corner?  Are you hard pressed from every side?  Is darkness closing in on you like a heavy cloud?

No matter how hard pressed you are, you can have ‘Peace that surpasses all understanding.’

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Phil 4:5b-7

Others will look at you and, knowing your situation, will want to know from where it is that you draw strength.  These are ‘divine appointments’ for you to share what Jesus Christ has done and is doing in your life.

As Paul wrote in our reference Scripture, the same God who made light shine out of darkness can make the light of His presence shine in your time of darkness.  It is through His power that:

You can be hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

You can be perplexed, but not in despair;

You can be persecuted, but not abandoned;

You can be struck down, but not destroyed.

If you are hard pressed, press in hard to Jesus.  May you draw strength and comfort from Him.  May you realize the treasure of His presence and power within you.  May you let His light shine through you in your time of darkness as a blessing not only to you but also to others.  May His all-surpassing power get you through the difficult times in your life.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psa 34:18