Feeling Pressed Down? How to Not be Crushed

How can you avoid being crushed when you feel pressed down harder each day? Angi shares.

“When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil? . . . Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever. The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it, but one does not use horses to grind grain. All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, and whose wisdom is magnificent” (Isaiah 28:23-24, 28-29).

One evening, I heard the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit whisper, “One does not go on threshing forever.”

The Lord brought me hope through this unfamiliar verse, however my first thought was a question. “This threshing is going to end? Really?”

The next day I received a message from a dear friend who sent me the same verse only a few hours later. The icing on the cake was a depiction of Ruth in the wheat fields that she included in her message. I was stunned!

Threshing means to flail or thrash the wheat in order to separate the seed from the chaff.

I know what it feels like to be thrashed, pressed hard, rolled over, and struck down . . . and I know that you do too.

I believe God threshes us to rid us of earthly desires. He refines us through fire so we look more like Him, and He prunes us so that we will bear fruit.

As I studied this passage in Isaiah, these thoughts came to mind:

* We must be ground into grain in order to feed others the bread of life.
* In order to feed others we will share in His sufferings.
* We can trust that God knows when to cease fire!

The Bible tells us that unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces a harvest (John 12:24).

Jesus had to be crushed to save the world, knowing His death would produce a great harvest of souls that would follow Him.

Dear friend, God’s wisdom is magnificent and His plan is wonderful. Our pain has a purpose that will pale in comparison to the inexpressible joy in hearing Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Prayer: Father, thank You for pouring out Your love, mercy and grace in the midst of our pain. Show us how to glorify You through these hard trials, and to be encouraged that even though we are hard pressed on every side, You will not allow us to be crushed. Although we are perplexed, we are not in despair; we may be struck down, but we will not be destroyed! (2 Corinthians 4: 8-9).

About the Author:
Angie Dugi lives in Texas with her husband and their three children. For almost two decades she has struggled with Lupus, Sjogrens, fibromyalgia, and RA. She loves to write and delights in telling others about Jesus. She is the author of “What I Learned Lying Down-Hope for the Chronically ill” and “GodSmiles.” You can find her blog at www.mygodsmiles.net

Can you think of other reasons that God may thresh us?

This is Nick Vujicic, motivational speaker, founder of Life without Limbs, new dad and so much more–and yes, he sings too. This is a heart-touching video as he sings “Something More.” We all want something more, and yet we look at our life and we just don’t see it coming together–we don’t know how God can work with what we’ve got. I hope this blesses you, but grab a tissue. Because I hope it doesn’t just move you, but reminds you that as Angi shared, the threshing will not go on forever and there is something more. Hugs…. -Lisa