Pressed down, but not crushed

Two men met to transact some business in wartime. The one was full of how the train in which he had travelled had been attacked from the air. He would not stop talking about the
excitement, the danger, and the narrow escape. The other
man, in the end, said quietly—‘Well, let’s get on with our business now. I’d
like to get away fairly early because my house was demolished by a bomb
last night.’1 Isn’t
it funny how some people like to wax long about their oh, so dramatic
trial? Others then, like the second fellow, bear up
differently.

Paul wanted to be straight up with the Corinthian believers about the terrible experience he had faced: “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we
were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even
of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should
not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us
from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He
will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for
us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to
us through many.” 2 Corinthians 1.8-11

Paul does not sugarcoat things. Unlike many of today’s preachers who want to focus on the ‘God wants you to prosper’ message of
the Gospel, Paul informs the folks that being a Christian is not always easy—not the
smoothest road. He does not mince words about the fact
that it was God who had delivered them from the hands of their enemies,
and if they were to survive a time of intense persecution of believers
of The Way, then
it would only be because God delivered them. Paul further
acknowledges the sustaining power of the prayers of the people.

He also saw himself as a tool in his Master’s hand, and allowed God to use him to comfort others. God helps his children comfort and
encourage as an extension of his own compassion. Psalm
199.156 says his compassion is great; James 5.11 says the Lord is full
of mercy and compassion. Aren’t you glad?

In this passage, Paul said ‘we were burdened beyond measure’; another version says ‘we were excessively weighted down till it was beyond bearing’ . . . these phrases along
with ‘we are undergoing affliction’ are derived from the Greek word Paul
used: thlipsis. In ordinary Greek, this word always
describes actual physical pressure on someone. The
nineteeth-century Archbishop of Dublin wrote:

‘When, according to the ancient law of England, those who willfully refused to plead had heavy weights placed on their breasts, and were so pressed and
crushed to death . . . this was literally thlipsis.’2

So vivid a picture, isn’t it?

‘Crushed by the weight of an unbearable burden . . . hmmm. Have you ever been there? I have. The pain is so
intense it feels like it might take your breath away. In
my experience, it is usually a circumstance beyond what you can control.

It is then . . . when you can affect no outcome,

It is then . . . when you are least in control . . .

that you can run to God.

And, it is then, He is most able.

It is then when friends can comfort you best with their faithful, fervent, and unceasing prayers on your behalf. You see, when hemmed in
by difficult situations, you have the opportunity to look up; I pray
that will be your response.

Indeed, it is then that you will be pressed down, but not crushed.

Christine