Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7–15
Devotional
Let’s be honest some days, it feels like life is too much. The pressure from work, family, finances, and our own inner battles can leave us gasping for air. If you’ve ever reached a point where you felt like you were breaking under the weight, Paul gets it.
In 2 Corinthians 4:8, he writes, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.” Paul isn’t speaking from a place of comfort. He was beaten, shipwrecked, rejected, and constantly in danger. Yet, in the middle of all that, he wasn’t crushed. How?
The answer lies in verse 7, where Paul describes us as “jars of clay” fragile, ordinary vessels yet we carry the treasure of God's power within us. The hardships don’t disappear, but they don't destroy us because God’s power is greater than our pain.
When you’re overwhelmed, God is not absent. Your survival isn't proof of your own toughness. it’s evidence of His strength in you. Your ability to get back up, to keep praying, to love again, to trust again—that’s the treasure of Christ at work in a cracked but still-standing jar.
Paul continues in verse 10, “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” That means every time life tries to break us down, it also becomes a moment for Jesus’ power to break through.
Endurance isn’t about escaping pain. It’s about facing it with a deep assurance that the God within you is stronger than anything around you. Like Paul, you may be knocked down but not knocked out.
So, the next time you feel pressed, remember: you are not crushed. You are held. And God is still working through you every crack, every tear, every long night.
Reflection:
What pressures are you currently facing? How might God be using them to reveal His strength in your life?
Prayer:
Lord, when life presses me on every side, be my strength within. Help me not to give up, but to trust that You are holding me together. Amen.
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