8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Paul is speaking to the Corinthian church about the reality of ministry and faith in a broken world. He’s just described believers as fragile jars of clay carrying the treasure of the gospel. In verse 8, he begins to list the very real sufferings they experience—not to glorify pain, but to highlight God’s sustaining power. Though the pressure is intense, they are not destroyed.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed—like life was closing in on every side? That’s what Paul was experiencing. He knew deep pain, pressure, and confusion. But here’s the hope: God kept him going. Being a Christian doesn’t mean avoiding trouble. It means having God’s strength to not be destroyed by it. You may be pressed—but you are not crushed. You may be confused—but you are not abandoned. Why? Because God Himself is holding you together.
