6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. -2 Corinthians 1:6
I want you to think of a Christian whose character you admire. A Christian who is steady and resolute in their faith. They have a deep relationship with God and speak about Him like they know Him. They aren’t shaken by the news and even when things look hopeless they have joy. Someone who has comforted you or inspired you to keep going through hard challenges.
Do you have someone in mind? Me too.
Now think of their story. What was their life like before they become this person of steadfast character? Almost always there was great suffering and affliction. God allowed such great pressure in their life and used it to root them firmly in Him and shape their attitudes, reactions, and faith. Doubt became weak faith, weak faith became stronger, and eventually this faith became an absolute certainty and resolute conviction in their God and their purpose to carry and point to His glory.
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. – Romans 5:3-5 NIV
I thoroughly enjoyed writing the title for today’s post. Yesterday during my time with the Lord I stumbled across a verse that led to another verse and so on. Next thing you know I’m looking at the Greek root word for suffering in the verse above.
Θλίβω – thlibó – to press, afflict, trouble, oppress
I read this definition and thought on it for a moment. Then dreaded phrase said by none too few doctors, dentists, and physical therapists in my life popped into my head. “You’re going to feel some pressure.” I laughed and cringed and bemoaned my low tolerance for pain because what I have felt after that warning has almost never felt like pressure to me. It just feels like pain.
It’s wild to know pressure, affliction, trouble, and oppression is the tool that God uses to mold us and make us steadfast. This is the way He changes us and allows us deeper fellowship with Jesus. It’s how He makes us the complete package, the image of Christ.
Who suffered more than Christ? If you can’t think of 100 ways that He suffered off the top of your head, then I beg you to run to the gospels right now and read with new eyes. We say we want to be like Him then when a little suffering comes our way, we are shocked. Okay I can only speak for myself. I am shocked.
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. -1 Peter 4:12
This verse makes me laugh! I can see the Apostle Peter with his brow furrowed and mischief in his eyes. What’s the surprise, friends? This is what we’ve been invited into! To share in the suffering, joy, death, and resurrection of Christ. We don’t get to pick and choose; we get it all.
Even the word test stands as a refining and shaping force in the Bible. Like when you heat metal up so hot that the impurities that would compromise its purity are exposed so that they refiner can scoop them away. I have felt this heat, and I am sure that you have too.
Sometimes I am so embarrassed at what gets exposed, but that’s just pride, another thing to be destroyed in the fire. Lately when these tests and afflictions come, I notice that slightly less garbage is there. I repent of the things I did wrong once again but celebrate the things that my Refiner has whisked away with the power of His blood and the fire.
Suffering isn’t the only thing that God uses to grow us. His Spirit in us and on us, scripture, Christian fellowship and accountability, to name the most potent. I have to submit to all these things and trust that God knows what He is doing. Thank goodness He does because my plans almost always fail!
There’s no pretty way to end this conversation. Almost everything I could say sounds weird, so I’ll go for the scriptural approach as wild as it sounds. Praise God for suffering! Thank you, God, for suffering! Comfort us, Jesus, in our suffering as you have suffered more than anyone and know how we feel. Have mercy on us and save us, but in the meantime let the pressure of trials refine and shape us into the image of Christ.
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2 responses to “You’re Going to Feel Some Pressure”
The insight of this post is deep, truthful and life altering. Thanks… I think. 🥴
You know what you were the person I thought of. I also like to end all of those kind of challenges with my question to God of being “what am I supposed to learn from this” I really liked this piece