SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1316

“Hard Pressed”

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NKJV)

Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians prefaces our reference Scripture verse stating that we are like jars of clay with the light of Jesus as a treasure inside.

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand; For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. – Isaiah 64:8; 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

We live in a fallen world that is under the influence of spiritual forces of evil that seek to destroy Christian followers of Jesus.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10

We may be fragile jars of clay, but we are more than conquerors because of the treasure that is within us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. – Romans 8:35-37

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. – 1 John 4:4

Hard Pressed; Not Crushed – No matter what difficulty has befallen us, our spirit in communion with the Spirit of God is not crushed. Through Jesus we remain spiritually strong in faith, trust, and hope.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? – Psalm 118:6

Perplexed; Not in Despair – To be perplexed means to be at a loss for understanding why bad things are happening to us. Perplexity brings doubt and it shakes our faith. When we are in despair, we feel we are without a resource. This a lie of the enemy and through the treasure of the Living Word of God in us we are strengthened knowing that Jesus is our ever-present resource.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. – Psalm 46:1

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. – Deuteronomy 31:8

Persecuted; Not Forsaken – The word for persecuted means to be pursued, and aggressively chased down. But God will not abandon us – we are not forsaken. We have a Shepherd who watches over us continually.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep; Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – John 10:1; Psalm 23:4

Struck Down; Not Destroyed – Our enemy gloats when he is able to beat us down. However, when we are driven to our knees, it is not a position of surrender, but rather a position of power through the mighty Name of Jesus. He will fight the battle. He will not lose those who are His!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. – Philippians 4:6; James 5:16

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! – Psalm 35:1

We are indeed earthen vessels, hand-crafted by God, each uniquely shaped and gifted, but all with the same Spiritual treasure inside.

For in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body…- 1 Corinthians 12:13

I managed a Big Box store Garden Center for several years. I recall how some people would buy broken pottery to restore and repurpose the pieces into beautiful art arrangements. God does the same with our brokenness. He is our God of restoration, renewal, and salvation. He will not lose any that are His.

So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up on the last day. – John 6:39

I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak… For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – Ezekiel 34:16; Romans 10:13

May the treasure of the Living Word of God in you encourage and strengthen you with power for living to His glory and praise.