Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance ~Romans 5:3 (ESV)
In Romans 5:3 the word "suffering" is translated from the Greek word "thlipsis" which means "pressure or crushing". It is the same word used to describe the process of using heavy rocks to extract the oil from olives. We often have troubles on every side, and we can rejoice in them if we realize their true benefit. Realizing the benefit of problems can only happen when we come to the end of ourselves. It is believed that the height of suffering is when we realize there is nothing we can do about a situation. Have you ever felt like you were at the height of suffering? We all know that position where we feel like we are in a pressure cooker and our mind is working overtime looking for options as to what we are going to do to change the situation but there are no options to be found. We cannot restore our own losses. Only God is able to bring restoration into our lives and He does when we come to the end of ourselves and trust Him and His timing. God knows that sometimes the height of suffering is exactly the place we need to be to muster up the will to seek Him. What type of pressures are you up against today? You can rest assured there will be something that comes up that will be “out of your hands” so to speak and it’s important that we realize that the Lord is not punishing us because of that situation.
We are told in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord isn’t slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (NIV) This can be a very misunderstood verse because we don't know the true meaning of the word repentance. Repentance means to change your mind. Our lives will only begin to turn around when we start looking at them from God’s perspective and He knows that. He isn’t waiting for you to do anything except to agree with what He has said. When you run out of options it’s time to run to God. Paul realized this in 2 Corinthians 8-9 "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." (NIV) Don’t expect God to change your predicament until you let Him change your mind. When we do, He helps us change our perspective of what is seemingly a bad situation and we come to a place where we can rejoice in our suffering because we know He loves us and that He is in complete control. If you feel like you are in an olive press or a pressure cooker right now, then you are in a good spot. God is using this situation to draw you to Himself and there is no place better than close to your Lord. We should thank God for what keeps us on our knees in prayer!
I will pay you back for those years of trouble. Then you will have plenty to eat. You will be full. You will praise the name of the Lord your God. He has done wonderful things for you. My people will never again be ashamed. ~Joel 2:25-26 (ERV)
What type of pressures are you up against today?
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