We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. — 2 Corinthians 4:8
Throughout points in my life, I have heard the many stories of people who were overwhelmed. Many of them said they felt like that the things they were facing in life were so great, that they had nowhere else to turn. I remember hearing this story one time from a man who I was near that was contemplating suicide. He said that things in his life were so bad, he did not feel like he had anyone he could rely on or any alternatives.
This verse reminds us that there can be trouble all around us. In fact, it goes as far as to say we ARE troubled on every side. There is no way to escape it in life. The troubles are there and they are all around. Sometimes they are pressing on you more than others. But it is interesting to learn more about this verse when you dig into the actual words that translated here.
In the original text, the word troubled is the idea of being pressed or compressed. It was the idea that the trouble was so great and large on all sides, that it pressed in and compressed on someone. I can certainly relate to and understand that concept. Many times troubles in life do feel like they press you in. But the writer follows up with the statement, “yet not distressed.”
This does not mean that the person is not concerned about the troubles. It does not mean that the troubles are easy. The original text carries the idea that someone was pressed in by outside forces, but all of those outside forces were unable to prevent the ability to move. In other words, through all the pressure, the person still had access to resources.
Those words could not be more true for the Christian. It may seem like we face unending trouble and pressure on every side. It may feel like we have lost all hope, but we must remember that our troubles are unable to take away all of our resources! We may run out of resources that are supplied by our comforts of this world, but our Father in Heaven has an unending supply of resources to care for us! You may feel like there is no hope, but there is access to the resources of heaven!
No matter what you may be facing or face this week, He is a resource in the midst of trouble.