…but not crushed…
2 Corinthians 4:8 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed..”
Our various ministries in the last 2 months have been compressed into 3 minutes video, click to watch this small video, sow your offerings if you have not done so far:
https://youtu.be/6yNQSZfPPH8?si=KACkIr7-BoPZEaW2
The words ‘not crushed’ were ringing in my ears over and over again and I wondered ‘how can one not be crushed even after being afflicted in ‘every way’, don’t you miss the words ‘in every way.’ Stay with me as I share what God spoke with me…..
Recently we are praying for a dear brother with blood cancer, well, we are gathering as a group every day and praying at a particular time for an hour or so. Initially we heard him groan in pain, exhausted, depleted unable to even speak during the time he was undergoing chemo and other treatments. Chemo is brutal….well, as we all started praying, worshipping, quoting Bible scriptures, slowly he and his wife were getting transformed beautifully. Meanwhile, I was also leading them in early morning prayer, regular Bible reading and fasting, all this was strengthening them and leading them to repentance instead of complaining and self pity. God started moving in a spectacular way by slowly healing the cancer, removing the cancerous cells and reducing the pain. When the doctors were contemplating on bone-marrow transplant which is a tedious and expensive process, God miraculously waved that off. He is still undergoing regular treatments; however, the chemo does not intimidate or scare him anymore, as he is on the bed receiving the treatments, he is able to worship and join the prayers with us, his voice is not shaky anymore – he sings with assertiveness and with faith. God pointed out to me….’Bala, this is what you call as ‘but not crushed..’ Amen. Clap hands for God!
Friend, when faith, trust and love for God overpowers the present trials and turmoil in our life then all that is not going to crush us. Say Amen. We will be able to say like Joseph “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20) Look at Joseph who was cast into the pit and then prison for no fault of his, he was innocent; nevertheless, ALL the afflictions, injustice and persecutions that followed did not CRUSH him, instead he came out polished like gold. Clap hands for God!
Friend, I felt like flour in the grinder being pounded …..bang…bang…I wondered can I survive? Huge responsibilities on my shoulders, students acting crazy, teachers suddenly quitting, my sudden health issues that were snowballing; yet, my inner man was getting stronger and all this could not crush me. Say Amen.
“We have to be tuned to God. We will never be free from discouragement and despondency until we know and walk with the very fountainhead of joy.”
― Billy Graham
Be strong!