Pressed but Not Crushed
Paul writes 1 Corinthians 10:13 , and if we read it quickly, it can feel like a neat little promise that God will make all our problems disappear. But that’s not what Paul is saying . He is speaking to people who are under pressure, people who are scared they’re failing, people who are feeling crushed by life. The verse comes right after Paul has been reminding them about Israel’s history in the wilderness. He’s saying, “Look at what happened to our people, they were rescued, fed, and guided, and yet many fell under pressure. Don’t think that pressure equals abandonment. It’s part of the human experience.” We all go through it at some time of our lives. The verse starts with these words: “ There has not overtaken you …” In Greek, the word is peirasmos, πειρασμός , meaning pressure, trial, proving, testing . This isn’t just about being tempted to do wrong. It’s life pressing in hard, moments that stretch you, test you, and sometimes feel unbearable. The same word is used t...