Hard-Pressed on Every Side

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed...." II Cor.4:7-8a
I am usually easily overwhelmed, even by everyday mundane things. So when tough times arrive, I feel a sense of panic coming on. I'm sure that this has something to do with my desire to be in control. In one particularly difficult time not long ago, as I was meditating on the above passage of God's Word, I received such comfort from the Lord and some insight into this passage in the form of word pictures that have since helped me to trust Him more and more when storms start to rage....
Think first about how it would feel to literally be "hard-pressed" on every side. I feel kind of claustrophobic when I think about it. How is it that someone or something would not be crushed by very forceful pressing from every direction? When cares, worries, temptations, illnesses, sin, etc. in your life increase...don't you feel almost like you're being crushed? Why does God allow this in the lives of those He loves and tenderly cares for? I believe that part of the answer is in "counter-pressure" and what is formed in the process. O.K...so imagine this; When a potter is at the pottery wheel, what would happen if he only used one hand? If he pressed on the outside of the pot, it would collapse inwardly. Likewise, if his hand was only on the inside, the pot would spin recklessly out of control. By using the pressure from one hand, however, and then the "counter-pressure" of the other hand, a beautiful one-of-a-kind treasure is the result. Now think of this; When you make waffles, you first pour the batter into the waffle iron. What if you decided to leave the top of the iron up so that you can watch the waffle cook? It would eventually burn on one side, and be raw on the other side. You need the "counter-pressure" from the waffle iron to adequately form the waffle. I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this...but here's one more: Have you ever seen an old printing press? The letter tiles are put in place, the paper is set out, then the press is pulled down onto the paper to "stamp" the image of the letters. The paper remains empty and void until the top is "hard-pressed" upon it.
So then, what is the "counter-pressure" in us....the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus!! "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." (Phil.2:13) The very Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from dead is living and active in us!! Do you know what this means? This is the only way that we are not crushed by every blow that comes at us. The Spirit not only empowers us to ENDURE hardship, persecution, and trials of every kind, but He is actually the "counter-pressure" in our lives that is forming us into beautiful treasures, creating us to be broken bread for a hungry world, and stamping His image into our very being. Dare I say that this rarely happens without the hard-pressing from every side.
What a difference this has made in my life! I do not fear hard things as I once did, nor do I always try to escape them, control them, or see them as something evil that I just need to endure. I am trying to practice this prayer as I am in the midst of hardship, "Lord Jesus, thank you that you are always at work in my life for your good purpose. Thank you also for your indwelling Spirit who is the power at work to form me, humble me, and use me. Not only is this trial not a surprise to You....but I know as well that it is a tool in Your hands to do something extraordinary in my life. I trust You. I submit to You. I praise You for Your work in and through me!"