“We are pressed on every
side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed,
but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God
never abandons us. We get knocked down but we get up again and
keep going.” II Cor. 4:8-9 NLT
Are you Pressed, Perplexed, Pursued and Pounded? Most of us are
in one way or another.
Pressed
The pressures of the life we lead are intense. They seem to come
from all sides at once. The job, the home, our spouse, the children,
the church, the neighbors, the bills, sickness and an endless
myriad of other pressing matters rob our joy and peace.
Perplexed
The choices we make each day are usually from a list of multiple
choices that often bring confusion and frustration to the forefront.
The answers are not always obvious and “All of the Above”
is not an option. Neither do we have the luxury of choosing “None
of the Above” so it becomes increasingly clear that some
kind of a decision, right or wrong, must be made.
Pursued
The feeling of being hunted down or pursued can be devastating
emotionally. The constant ringing phone often with a telemarketer
at the other end demanding your time and resources.
A mail box full of bills and credit card offers. Internet POP
UPS that make you want to POP OFF. Deadlines at work or school
and the never ending daily chores that seem to never get done
are all examples.
Pounded
This one is the worst and often contains a combination of some
of the others or all four. I always imagine a Boxing Match. The
opponent Satan stands at the center of the ring ready to touch
gloves and hear the rules. Just as you turn to go back to your
corner to wait for the bell he delivers a sucker punch to the
back of your head and begins pounding on you with everything he’s
got. There you lie in the center of the ring unable to get up
while Satan dances around the ring with his gloves in the air
declaring victory and the opening bell has never sounded.
This passage of scripture points
to one important fact; “God never abandons us.” We are
not crushed or broken because God will not abandon us. We don’t
give up and quit because God will not abandon us. And when Satan
knocks us to the mat Jesus will pick us up and help us stand.
“The Battle belongs to Me” He will say and then will
turn to Satan only to see him fleeing for his miserable life.
