ARE YOU UNDER GREAT PRESSURE?

ARE YOU UNDER GREAT PRESSURE?

"We were under great pressure." (2 Corinthians 1:8 " ... so that
CHRIST'S POWER may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

"God allowed the crisis in Jacob's life at Peniel to totally surround
him until he ultimately came to the point of making an earnest and
humble appeal to God Himself. That night, he wrestled with God and
literally came to the place where he could take hold of Him as never
before. And through his narrow brush with danger, Jacob's faith and
knowledge of God was expanded, and his power to live a new and
victorious life was born.

The Lord had to force David, through the discipline of many long and
painful years, to learn of the almighty power and faithfulness of his
God. Through those difficult years, he also grew in his knowledge of
faith and godliness, which were indispensable principles for his
glorious career as the King of Israel.

Nothing but the most dangerous circumstances in which Paul was
constantly placed could ever have taught him, and thus the church
through him, the full meaning of the great promise of God he learned to
claim: 'My grace is sufficient for you." (2 Corinthians 12:9). And
nothing but the great trials and dangers we have experienced would ever
have led some of us to know Him as we do, to trust Him as we have, and
to draw from Him the great measure of His grace so indispensable during
our times of greatest need.

Difficulties and obstacles are God's challenges to our faith. When we
are confronted with hindrances that block our path of service, we are to
recognize them as vessels for faith and then to fill them with the
fullness and complete sufficiency of Jesus.

As we move forward in faith, simply and fully trusting Him, we may be
tested. Sometimes we may have to wait and realize that 'perseverance
must finish its work' (James 1:4). But ultimately we will surely find
'the stone rolled away'(Luke 24:2) and the Lord Himself wanting to
bestow a double blessing on us for our times of testing." From Streams
in the Desert - Zondervan

Great quote: "If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of
their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong
points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting "Who made thee to
differ? and what hast thou that thou hast not received?" then I know
nothing of Calvary love."
Amy Carmichael

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