We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. – 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

Oh, the pressure of chronic illness! This life sure can raise all kinds of pressures, can’t it? Self pressure increases, outside pressures rise, and blood pressure soars!

Look at what the above scripture tells us about the apostles’ experience with pressure. They were crushed and overwhelmed!! Do you know that feeling? In fact, it was beyond their ability to endure! Oh yeah, we’ve been there! Sometimes we, too, think we will never live through it. How amazing is it that the Bible can give us real people of God that can relate to our deep and real struggles!

Now let’s look at the next verse. But as a result…. I love that! As a result… we stopped relying on ourselves. Haven’t we? If not, don’t you think it’s time? Lay down that burden you truly are incapable of bearing up under!

And here’s the best part… as a result they learned to rely ONLY on God. No other help needed. No magic formulas, no trade secrets, in no other place can aid be found.

Who Raises The Dead. Have you ever seen such? Do you know of anyone else who can provide that kind of promise?

Just as pressure delivered relentlessly over time will produce diamonds from rock, our crushing and overwhelming pressures, when endured can produce jewels in our own lives. Without the raised pressures we may never learn this valuable lesson, to stop relying on ourselves and learn to rely only on God, who raises the dead.

All praise and glory to You who allow us to reach the brink so that we may learn reliance on You alone! Thank You that you always deliver, that you never fail to rescue us… that you can teach us wondrous things even through these raised pressures. Produce gems in our lives, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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May God Bless You,

Shelly