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For we don't desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia: that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver, on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us 2 Corinthians 1:8–10 WEB.

When we have a tough piece of meat that we are trying to cook, we break out a pressure cooker that we have, and soon it will become so tender that it just falls apart. The pressure cooker is an excellent device for speeding up long cooking tasks. Something that would take three hours to cook can be cooked in the pressure cooker in about thirty minutes.

When the Lord decided to put me in the ministry, He brought the pressure of closing our existing business. When I tried to keep it open, He turned up the pressure until I had no choice except to do what He wanted or starve and be homeless.

You would think He could have just asked me, but instead, our business dried up, which brought tremendous financial pressure on us. Then at the last minute, the week that we prepared to move out of our home, He opened up a door in ministry, and here we are. Now I know without a shadow of a doubt that He put me here and is with us. This was His idea, and I don't have to wonder if I forced my way into the ministry. He pushed me.

We spent some quality time in God's pressure cooker. It put us where He wanted us to be and changed us in the process. We learned a lot during that season. Serving God with all your heart, giving all you have, praying on your face in tears, praising, worshiping, and fasting doesn't rescue you from hardship or pressure. Sometimes you are meant to endure the situation and have something squeezed out of you. In the end, it will work out better.

Paul wrote there were times when they were under so much pressure, so far beyond their control, that he thought they would die. Then he noted that it was so that they would trust in God and not in themselves. This was the way that the Apostles lived. They depended on God to take care of them.

That's scary for those who want to be in control but still serve God, for there will come a time when He will break you and teach you to trust Him instead. When your world begins to crumble because you are no longer in control of the situation, guess who your God was: You. I still remember the day that I had to start trusting Him, and it was because I was powerless against what was happening, much like Paul.

There is good news: It doesn't last forever. Pressure cooking is intense, but it is the fast track. Who you become when under pressure is just who you really are. God already knows, but He wants you to know, and He allows pressure to steer us in the right direction.

He knows just how much we need, for how long, and something that could take years, may only take weeks. So don't panic and give up when you are under pressure. You are not the first. You will come out of this better when you are done, and you will have a testimony to share with others who may go through the same thing.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that You work Your perfect will in my life. Please put me where I need to be, and surround me with those that need to be there. Give me hope, Lord, and help me remain stable under pressure. I have put my trust in God. What can man do to me? In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: The FAAD (Fight Against Anxiety & Depression) hosts "Feel Good Friday" at RHM each week! All are welcome to share a moment, thought or prayer to lift the spirits of the fellowship! Feel Good Friday takes place on the home page at RHM! As always, If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network