September 23, 2024
My dearly beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, I greet and bless you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May the name of the Lord be glorified. Let us take and read from the book of 2 Corinthians 4:8, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.”
My dear brothers and sisters, this is a word of faith. It says, even if we are perplexed, we don’t fall into despair. David was surrounded by his enemies, so he prayed, “Lord, keep me from all the troubles that surround me from all corners. And because You have delivered me, I thank You, Lord.” He saw the troubles clear away and found a broad place of peace and safety. That is what the Lord is looking at you this morning and telling you. Just say one word of thanks for considering that which does not yet exist as though it already exists.
Are you pressed from all sides? Is a creditor pressing you? Or is there pressure mounting on you from coworkers or your boss at work? Is pressure mounting in your ministry, or from your neighbors in the locality? Is there pressure from your husband or wife, or your children? Are you feeling pressed from all corners?
Today, say with faith, “Lord, though we are pressed from all sides, we will not be crushed.” Declare this to the Lord with confidence, and He will bring you out of all these pressures. God will bring you to a broad place and make your name great. He sees your needy state and your tight situation. Just as the people of Israel were in a crushed state, pressed from all sides, they lifted up their voices and cried out to the Lord. When we face trials and struggles, and we cry out to God, He descends in a marvelous way to deliver us. Secondly, when we are perplexed, we tend to sink into despair, which can lead to depression and mental illness. But today, the Lord says, “It is true that you were perplexed, but I will not allow you to fall into despair. I will bring you out of depression, and you will live well. You will run with renewed strength and achieve great things.”
Prayer:
Dear Lord, we thank You. Even though we are hard-pressed, we will not be crushed. Together, we confess this word with faith. Just as You delivered David from all the trials that surrounded him, You will deliver Your children and bring them to a broad place. Though we are perplexed, we are not in despair. Just as the city of Shushan rejoiced when the decree against the Jews was canceled, may Your children who are perplexed today begin to rejoice. Let Your hand of miracles work wonders in their lives.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray,
Amen.
