Tight Spaces

2 Corinthians 4:8 (TPT) - “Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option.”

Have you ever been in situations where you feel “every kind of pressure” and experience times when you don’t know what to do?” Me too. We feel pressed. We feel the weight of our circumstances pushing us down and feel as though we don’t know where to move or what to do. I call them tight spaces. And those tight spaces can be any number of things.

Maybe the tight space is financial hardship, or relationship troubles. Maybe the loss of a job, or children not currently serving the Lord, or a tough decision that needs to be made. Somewhere along the line, we’ve all come up against circumstances that seemed to press us harder than we were prepared for. Sometimes, under the weight of what we may be facing, it can seem daunting and too difficult to deal with. We may be tempted at times to just give in, and to cave underneath the pressure of it all. That’s why I love what the scripture states above, “but quitting is not an option.”

I can say that in my life, when circumstances have pressed against me, and in the midst of my tight spaces, the Lord has always been so faithful to open up those spaces and give me breathing room. He brings direction and makes a way where there seems to be no way. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and I can testify to the truth of that. When I look back and see His hand rescuing me time and again, opening doors of favor for me, and redeeming that which was lost, I can’t help but rejoice in His goodness. I’m sure you can do the same, as you recount how faithful He has been to you.

And do you know what else I have learned to be true? That when we feel so pressed that it’s hard to lift our hearts and our hands, we HAVE to press back. But, Sharon? How in the world am I supposed to press back, when I feel like all my strength is gone and I just can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel? Friends, we press back by worshiping Him. By praising Him. By keeping the Word on our lips, and speaking to our situation. We have to press against that which is tightening around us. Even when it’s hard. Even when we’re praising through tears streaming down our faces (trust me, been there done that). Even when it feels strength has abandoned us, and giving up seems much more appealing than pressing forward. EVEN THEN. And when we press back against our tight space with the tools the Lord has given us (worship, praise, prayer, the Word) and give Him room to work, He rushes in and works on our behalf. He is the God of the impossible and nothing is too difficult for Him. He will always show up and do His part, and we have to do ours.

We know from John 16:33 that “in this godless world we will experience difficulties…” We are

not promised a trouble-free life. We will at times encounter difficulty and find ourselves in tight spaces and dealing with circumstances that are just down-right hard. We are encouraged though at the end of that scripture to “take heart” because Jesus has conquered the world! He is so trust-worthy and gives us peace and room to breathe even in the toughest of situations.

I just want to encourage you today, when you find yourself in a “tight space”), press back by praising Him for His faithfulness and goodness, and keep the Word on your lips, and watch the Lord move on your behalf.

I’m leaving you with the following scripture to mediate on: Psalm 27:13-14 (TLB), “I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see his goodness to me here in the land of the living. Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you.”