Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

2 Corinthians 4:8

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.

Being hard pressed on every side refers to the external pressure; Being perplexed refers to the pressure within us. You and I are often attacked by pressures from outside and within us. How can we overcome pressure? There are two ways of doing so:

First of all, Paul's thinking is positive. He said, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed." For us to overcome the pressure, we must first overcome our negative thoughts and thoughts that sa "it is impossible". When you hear someone's testimony about how God helped him overcome his pressure, how many times have you thought, "His situation is very different from mine. God will not necessarily help me." Each time when a new proposal is being discussed at a meeting, there is always those who will immediately say, "We have no money, no people, no time, and it is impossible!" If we are to live a victorious life, we must reject negative and complaining people. How can we be hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed? The secret is to ask God to open our eyes to see His presence. During the time of Elisha in the Old Testament, the king of Aram led his army to attack the Israelites. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," Elisha answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. In an emergency, you and I need ask God to open our eyes to see that He is with us and He is bigger than the one in the world.

Secondly, an important principle to learn in overcoming despair is to have the glorious hope in our hearts. In the church people often lament that it is hard to be united in one heart to serve the Lord. This is the same problem among churches. We often feel that unity among churches is a difficult thing. It is only when everyone has a common vision in their hearts, can we be united in Christ. Are you troubled by something? Are you feeling hard pressed on every side? Turn back to God and He will grant you strength to overcome all the pressure.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you, because you still sit on the throne and you are our Savior and our Hope. May your spirit lift up each brother and sister, open our eyes so we can see the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around us, to know that you are with us. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!