pressed but not crushed

it is not always the easiest to maintain composure in a world that always seems to be against you. God never promises safety, riches, ease, or luxury in being a servant of Him. His promises, His blessings are given to those who endure, those who long after Him, those as it says in Hebrews, run in way as to finish, not just get by.

what a promise! what a hope we have!

but here's where it gets tricky, what do we do in the meantime? how does our future and hopeful outlook effect our everyday lifestyle? how does it effect our daily life especially when we feel trampled, overlooked, depressed, dreading our own day of birth?

Paul knowingly told those he wrote to about the trials that will surround them as believers, being beaten, ridiculed, and worst of all, ostracized and left alone. one of the greatest passages in which Paul describes this comes in his third letter to the Corinthian church (as we know, 2 Corinthians) and talks about how believers should view their time of distress. in chapter 4, his words describe how yes we are tempted, we are tested, we are enclosed, we are pushed to our extremes, but we are not left alone.

it specifically talks about the death of Jesus is working through us. i don't know about you, but the dying process does not feel good at all. even at my young, immature and naive age, i can feel the process slowly debilitating me. but it isn't for fun that we must have this death work through us, it is for a specific purpose, that His life also be at work in us and be revealed through our mortal body.

as much as that is not fun for those of you still reading this, it is what we must do and go through. i don't know if all of you know the turmoil i am in, but definitely feel pressed, perplexed, struck-down and the like. i only say that to tell you not to have pity for me, but to learn from me, that in the middle of feeling left alone, challenged beyond your conceivable logic, or even stressed to the point of crying, that we carry with us as Paul wrote prior to those verses, we have a treasure within us, the all-surpassing power of God.

one last scripture that gives me hope is found by someone i will hope to call friend, David. his message in Psalm 34:17-22 reminds me of God's promise to fulfill those who follow, those who serve and to those who prove themselves faithful.

Abba, may i be seen righteous in your eyes . . . .

. . . . Jehovah Rophe, i look to you.