It amazes me how God is opening my mind to see seemingly simple words in so many profound ways! This is another “doozie” of a word with multiple meanings, lessons, and implications!
A couple of weeks ago, my mother in law was telling me about a situation at our nephew’s basketball game in which one of our nephew’s friends received a “full court press” and had no way to escape. That’s been pinball-ing around in my mind. Then, little by little, God has shown me other aspects of this word…”pressed.”
The online dictionary gave a couple of definitions. 1. To move (or cause to move) into a position of contact with something by exerting continuous physical force. 2. To apply pressure to something in order to flatten, shape, or smooth it. In basketball, this full court press is a defensive tactic where players cover opponents all over the court, not just near their basket. In homemaking, ladies may be heard to say that they need to “press” their family’s clothing. They apply heat and pressure to remove unsightly wrinkles. There are many facets…both good and not preferred…to this word!
Pressing, as the Bible talks about it, can be a good thing. The woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:45) pressed in close to Jesus, because she understood the healing power in His hands! We’re told that when we draw near (press in) to Him, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). We’re told that as we give, gifts will be given to us; a good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap (Luke 6:38). We press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in God through Jesus Christ (Philipians 3:14). In the gospel accounts, we are told multiple times that the crowds were pressing in on Jesus, to learn the Word of God and hear it preached. They were drawing near to Him.
Pressing can also be an undesirable thing. We are “hard pressed from every side” (2 Corinthians 4:8). Enemies brought pressure on Lot in Genesis 19. Many of the Psalmists talk about enemies hounding them (pressing in, to paraphrase), being relentless, and wearing them down. Proverbs 30:33 speaks of the nose bleeding from being “pressed.” Balaam’s donkey pressed his master’s leg against a rock wall to get his attention (Numbers 22:25).
There is a third category of pressing, though. This is a form of pressing that feels bad, but creates good fruit. This fruit is not just for now, but for eternity. Jesus allows us to be “pressed” to prepare us for heaven, for which He has created us! Truly, in this life, we will have trials and tribulations, but we can rest in peace, knowing that He has overcome the world (John 16:33). We are told that we will actually be blessed if we remain steadfast during testing, because then, we will receive the crown of life (James 1:2). Our present sufferings aren’t even worth being compared to the glory which will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). Rejoice and be glad when persecuted, for our reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:12). We should not be surprised by fiery trials when they come, but rejoice when you share Christ’s sufferings that we may be glad when His glory is revealed (1 Peter 4: 12-13). Our momentary afflictions are preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Finally, here is a barn-burner of a promise; the grand finale, if you will! And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast (1 Peter 5:10).
Years ago, we used to sing a song called Trading my Sorrows, based on 2 Corinthians 4:8. It speaks of God’s promise to not let our afflictions endure forever, but of the joy that comes after them!
I’m pressed but not crushed
Persecuted, not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
And I am blessed beyond the curse
For His promise will endure
That His joy is going to be my strength
Though my sorrows may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning
I’m trading my sorrows
I’m trading my shame
I’m laying it down
For the joy of the Lord
I’m trading my sickness
I’m trading my pain
I’m laying it down
For the joy of the Lord
It is my prayer for today that we remember that God promises that we will be pressed in this life. There will be trials, temptations, tribulations, and other tricky situations! However, He promises to remain with us, renew our minds, transform our hearts, redeem us from sin, and ultimately rescue us from this life into an eternity with Him.
Lord, help us keep our minds fixed not on earthly things but on heavenly places. Help us remember that you want us to press in to you. Help us remember that the enemy and situations in a fallen world will press us from every side, but that that “pressing” never takes you by surprise. Help us remember that sometimes you ordain, or at least allow, some of the pressing that we face so that we can be prepared to live the lives you’ve called us to live now, to prepare us for heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen!