Let God Take the Controls

"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."II Corinthians 4.8-9

This scripture has been a sort of theme scripture for my life ever since I heard John Fischer quote it in a musical entitled "The New Covenant". Since that time I've done some study into the Greek words which make up this scripture. Especially thrilling when you understand the words is the part which says we are troubled on every side but not distressed. The word for "troubled on every side" means among other things to be placed in a wine press for crushing. The word for distressed can also be translated, "crushed."

As Christians we often get the idea that being a Christian is sort of an antidote for all the difficult stuff we face everyday. Then we get up one morning and we have a flat tire, we're late for work, get yelled at by the boss, discover a bill we didn't know we had, trip on the stairs and have afight with our spouse and say, "Lord, this isn't what I signed up for." Well, read that scripture over. It's exactly what you signed up for.

We are destined to be thrown into the wine press, but --- and here is the good part --- we will not be crushed. You see, God is doing something special in each of our lives. He is creating in our daily walk a demonstration of his power to the rest of the world. They look at us and see a quality of endurance which is baffling. And when they ask, how do you stand up under the pressure, we have an answer. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit saith the Lord."

No matter how much pressure the enemy places on the wine press, we cannot be crushed. God said it and it's so.

Lord, thank you for being there with me in times of trouble and distress.