The Pressure's On

These things I have spoken to you,
that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation;
but be of good cheer,
I have overcome the world.
~Jesus

There are notes in my Bible
that explain the word tribulation.
I quote from The New Spirit Filled Life Bible
Study Notes NKJV.
"Tribulation-thlipsis-
Pressure, oppression, stress,
anguish, tribulation, adversity,
affliction, crushing, squashing,
squeezing, distress.

Imagine placing your hand on
a stack of loose items
and manually compressing them.
That is thlipsis,
putting a lot of pressure on that
which is free and unfettered.

Thlipsis is like spiritual bench-pressing.
The word is used of crushing grapes
or olives in a press."

Does this describe what you've been going through?
And Jesus tells us to be of good cheer
in the midst of this kind of
overwhelming pressure.
Why?
Because in spite of the fact that being human
and being alive in this world
causes us much grief and pain,
He has, in fact,
overcome the world.

Overcome-to get the better of;
to gain the superiority

So, we don't cheer up because tribulation
will come to an end.
We cheer up because He has gotten
the better of it all.
He has gained the superiority
over our tribulation.

It hasn't come as any surprise to Him.

And He uses this crushing to turn
our harvest of wheat into palatable flour
with which we can make bread
to feed the hungry.

He uses this trampling to crush
the grapes of our lives
to make wine that makes
hearts glad around us.

(It really is no fun.
I'm just trying to cheer us up.)

I keep thinking of two things to do
in the midst of the confusion
that comes when we don't know
which end is up;
when we feel like the whole
world is against us.

I've been thinking about it all night
and woke up with it again this morning.

It comes from Psalm 37.

Trust in the LORD
and do good.

Think about it.
We can not possibly fix the mess we are in.
We can worry,
or we can trust Him.

Trust, says Webster, is
'assured reliance on the character, ability,
strength, or truth of someone in whom
your confidence is placed.' .

So...
Stop defending yourself.
Stop fighting back.
Stop adding fuel to the fire.

Instead...
Do good.
Do those things which produce favorable results.
Do what is beneficial.
Do what is valid, genuine, and honorable.
Do what is worthy, enjoyable, and happy.
Do what is dependable, reliable, and well-behaved.
(Thanks again, Mr. Webster.)

It reminds me of what Jesus' brother James said-
"Faith without works is dead."
Trust in the LORD=Faith
Do good=Works

Maybe this isn't what you wanted to hear.
Maybe you wanted validation.
Maybe you wanted some sympathy.
Maybe you wanted to go lop off a few heads.

I'm with you on that.
But what good would it do?
There are people who are watching.
And while we aren't supposed to care
about what people think of us,
we are supposed to care about what
they think of God because of us.
And we are supposed to care for them.

Paul said it to Timothy this way,
"...endure hardship as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare
entangles himself with the affairs
of this life,
that he may please him
who enlisted him as a soldier...
...endure all things
for the sake of the elect,
that they also may obtain the
salvation which is in Christ Jesus
with eternal glory."

Endure.
Don't get tangled up in the mess.
Don't jump into the fray.
So you can please God.

Endure.
For the sake of others
who need a Savior
and are headed
towards belief in Him.

Trust in the LORD
and do good.

And this is His promise to you.

He will bring forth your righteousness
as the light,
and your justice
as the noon day.
 For the LORD loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints.

And what is so special about noon day?
There are no shadows at noon.

Thank you, Dear Overcomer
of our tribulations.
Help us to trust You
and do good.