Pressed but Not Crushed
Life has a way of catching us off guard. One moment, everything feels calm and under control; the next, we’re hit by unexpected challenges that threaten to overwhelm us. Whether it’s a health crisis, a relationship in trouble, financial setbacks, or countless other struggles, we sometimes wish there were a warning, like a voice over the intercom announcing, “Stand by for heavy seas,” before the storm hits.
But that’s not how life works. More often than not, we are thrust into turbulent waters without notice and without a guide on how to navigate the choppy seas ahead. In these moments, it’s easy to feel discouraged, to wonder where God is, or even to question our faith altogether. “This isn’t what I signed up for,” we might think.
Yet the Bible offers us a radically different perspective. Throughout Scripture, we see a consistent call to perseverance, endurance, and steadfastness. Every book in the New Testament addresses this reality; it's a reminder that difficulty is not just a possibility for believers; it’s an expectation.
In 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, the Apostle Paul explains that “...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.” Here, Paul paints a vivid picture of our lives as believers. We are like fragile clay jars, easily cracked, yet carrying the priceless treasure of the gospel. Our weakness only highlights God’s strength, reminding us that any resilience or hope we have comes from Him. He goes on to describe a powerful series of contrasts: pressed but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. We are not shielded from suffering, but we are sustained in it by God’s power.
One example of this kind of transformational perseverance unfolded recently with our own Spain mission team. They were scheduled to fly out to Spain but were suddenly grounded in Washington D.C. after their connecting flights were canceled due to an airport workers’ strike in France. In the chaos, it would have been easy to feel abandoned, to wonder where God was in their plans.
But God showed up. He opened the door for them to find a perfect alternative flight. He provided lodging overnight and protected every detail, even their luggage! When they finally made it to Spain, they were able to gather with the Esperanza de Vida church to worship this morning and praise God for His faithfulness. Despite travel delays, uncertainty, and the stress of tight customs connections, the team saw God’s hand guiding them through each obstacle. They were pressed, but not crushed.
This is the heart of transformational perseverance: the ability to allow God to use our trials, whether they come from mission-field flight delays or from much heavier relational burdens, to shape us into the image of Christ. It’s a process of growth and deepening trust that happens not despite our struggles, but because of them.
James 1:2-4 captures this beautifully: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” At first glance, this feels upside-down. Joy in trials? But James helps us see that trials have a purpose: they build perseverance, which matures our character.
Similarly, Romans 5:3-5 reminds us: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” There is a chain reaction here: suffering develops perseverance, perseverance shapes character, and character leads to a confident, unshakable hope.
To cultivate this kind of perseverance, we must shift our perspective. Instead of seeing trials as pointless pain, we can view them as invitations to grow closer to God. This doesn’t mean ignoring or minimizing our hurts. It means bringing our fear and pain honestly before God, trusting in His character even when the way forward is unclear.
In Exodus 34, God describes Himself as “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” This is the God who carries us through every storm, who meets us in our weakness, and who works all things together for our good.
True spiritual resilience is not self-reliance. It is complete dependence on God’s strength. As Paul reminds us, “God’s power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
So when life suddenly shifts, when you feel blindsided, when storms hit without warning, remember the Spain mission team’s testimony. Remember the believers who have gone before you. Remember Paul’s words: you may be pressed, but you are not crushed. In your weakness, God’s power is revealed, and through your trials, He is transforming you for a glory beyond anything this world can offer.
But that’s not how life works. More often than not, we are thrust into turbulent waters without notice and without a guide on how to navigate the choppy seas ahead. In these moments, it’s easy to feel discouraged, to wonder where God is, or even to question our faith altogether. “This isn’t what I signed up for,” we might think.
Yet the Bible offers us a radically different perspective. Throughout Scripture, we see a consistent call to perseverance, endurance, and steadfastness. Every book in the New Testament addresses this reality; it's a reminder that difficulty is not just a possibility for believers; it’s an expectation.
In 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, the Apostle Paul explains that “...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.” Here, Paul paints a vivid picture of our lives as believers. We are like fragile clay jars, easily cracked, yet carrying the priceless treasure of the gospel. Our weakness only highlights God’s strength, reminding us that any resilience or hope we have comes from Him. He goes on to describe a powerful series of contrasts: pressed but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. We are not shielded from suffering, but we are sustained in it by God’s power.
One example of this kind of transformational perseverance unfolded recently with our own Spain mission team. They were scheduled to fly out to Spain but were suddenly grounded in Washington D.C. after their connecting flights were canceled due to an airport workers’ strike in France. In the chaos, it would have been easy to feel abandoned, to wonder where God was in their plans.
But God showed up. He opened the door for them to find a perfect alternative flight. He provided lodging overnight and protected every detail, even their luggage! When they finally made it to Spain, they were able to gather with the Esperanza de Vida church to worship this morning and praise God for His faithfulness. Despite travel delays, uncertainty, and the stress of tight customs connections, the team saw God’s hand guiding them through each obstacle. They were pressed, but not crushed.
This is the heart of transformational perseverance: the ability to allow God to use our trials, whether they come from mission-field flight delays or from much heavier relational burdens, to shape us into the image of Christ. It’s a process of growth and deepening trust that happens not despite our struggles, but because of them.
James 1:2-4 captures this beautifully: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” At first glance, this feels upside-down. Joy in trials? But James helps us see that trials have a purpose: they build perseverance, which matures our character.
Similarly, Romans 5:3-5 reminds us: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” There is a chain reaction here: suffering develops perseverance, perseverance shapes character, and character leads to a confident, unshakable hope.
To cultivate this kind of perseverance, we must shift our perspective. Instead of seeing trials as pointless pain, we can view them as invitations to grow closer to God. This doesn’t mean ignoring or minimizing our hurts. It means bringing our fear and pain honestly before God, trusting in His character even when the way forward is unclear.
In Exodus 34, God describes Himself as “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” This is the God who carries us through every storm, who meets us in our weakness, and who works all things together for our good.
True spiritual resilience is not self-reliance. It is complete dependence on God’s strength. As Paul reminds us, “God’s power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
So when life suddenly shifts, when you feel blindsided, when storms hit without warning, remember the Spain mission team’s testimony. Remember the believers who have gone before you. Remember Paul’s words: you may be pressed, but you are not crushed. In your weakness, God’s power is revealed, and through your trials, He is transforming you for a glory beyond anything this world can offer.
Recent
Archive
2025
March
April
May
June
Categories
no categories
No Comments