By Ps. Margret Glade
2 Cor 4 ; 8 – 9
8. We are hard pressed on every-side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
9. Persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
Ladies you will agree with me, when we were in the world we handled things differently than to how we handle it now as a believer. As a non-believer although I knew about Jesus, I DID NOT KNOW HIM.
See then it was easy getting angry and really giving someone a bit of my mind (you remember how often we used those words or maybe it was just me) However now we handle things different, we know now we need to be quick to listen and slow to speak.
So when Paul is talking about being hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down, he is talking about being hit from every side. Yes when real trouble comes. We are hard pressed by ; lack of finance, job loss; illness causing pain and suffering; trouble with children; marriage problems. However take heart we might be hard pressed , but we not crushed or squeezed into a mass, because God is on our side.
Hebrews 13 v 5 …… I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Psalm 23 V 1 …The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
Isaiah 53 v 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities . The chastisement for our peace was upon Him by His Stripes we are healed.
PERPLEXED; meaning confused or worried. Often we worry our children, grandchildren, children of our church or area especially with everything happening in our areas or country. The drugs , senseless killing shooting of our young people the child trafficking. This means we as parents grand parents must ensure we take our children and our grandchildren to Church (BIBLE BASED Holy Spirit filled church) The bible teaches us in Proverbs 22 v 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. So when all these things happen we can take hart knowing we are not in despair as praying parents we have The word of God to declare over our children
Isaiah 54 v 13 All your children shall Be taught of The Lord , and great shall be the peace of your children.
Isaiah 49 v 25 I will contend with him that contendeth with thee and I will save their children
Isaiah 54 v 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn.
PERSECUTED means to subject someone to hostility or ill- treatment especially because of race , political or religious beliefs. Here people were persecuted in their work place because of their beliefs. We are living in the last days so persecution will even become so much more. However we are not forsaken. Jesus tell us He will never leave us nor forsake us. Psalm 27 says The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall i fear. The Lord is The strength of my life of whom will i be afraid ……………HALLELUJAH
Exodus 14 v 14 The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.
STRUCK DOWN ; Means to be hit with tremendous force to be knocked down. this we often don’t see it coming could be a health crisis , the loss of a loved one, employment shake-up or betrayal.
Try as we may in that moment it is difficult to grab hold of any joy or hope. It feels like all strength is gone. Last year 2 of my siblings passed on one on the 4th May 2023 the other 4th August 2023. It literally caught us off guard , we has so many questions because it all happened so quick they both were healthy and the next they were gone. The enemy thought he had us, but God is faithful it hurt but we were not destroyed , because we knew that Jesus was Lord of their lives. God has given us powerful truths to hold onto when we are down, truths that will help us rise above our situations.
1 John 4 v 4 He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Rom 8 v 39 Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God.
1 Peter 5 v 10 God Himself will perfect confirm strengthen and establish us after we suffered a little while,
Rom 8 v 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God , to those who are called according to His purpose.
Beloved know no matter what comes your way you might be hard pressed on every side , you are not crushed. perplexed , but certainly not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Struck down, most definitely not destroyed.
For you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BLESSED DAY