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

Pressing some fallen rose petals, it struck me that the fragrance became more intense when pressed.  I thought of 2 Corinthians 2:14,

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ,

and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 

Lord, please allow the fragrance of You to be what comes out when we are pressed!

The Greek word often translated “tribulation” means pressure; from a word meaning to crowd.  Acts 14:22 says, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Once we enter the door of salvation through Christ, Satan will aim to crowd and come against us to make us look more like the world. But God uses tribulation in the life of a believer to make the fragrance of Christ even more noticeable as He conforms us into the image of Christ. When we submit to God, it gives Satan a continual kick in the teeth.

Look at this example from the life of Paul,

“But I want you to know, brethren,

that the things which happened to me

have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,

so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest,

that my chains are in Christ;

and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains,

are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” 

Philippians 1:12–14

Lord, thank You for purposing everything that comes into our lives to be for our good and Your glory! May they work to encourage the body of Christ.