II Corinthians 4:12

Pressed beyond measure; yes, pressed to great length; Pressed so intensely, beyond my own strength; Pressed in my body and pressed in my soul, Pressed in my mind till the dark surges roll.

Pressure from foes, and pressure from dear friends. Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.

These are weighty words for all Christ’s servants, but we must be His servants in reality in order to enter into their deep significance.

If we are content to live a life of indolence and ease, a life of self-seeking and self-pleasing, it is impossible for us to understand such words or indeed to enter into any of those intense exercises of soul through which Christ’s true-hearted servants and faithful witnesses, in all ages, have been called to pass.