Surviving Pressure

Recently I read about a new fish discovered in the deepest depths of the ocean. It’s a pink snailfish that looks like an oversized tadpole, up to a foot long. The significant thing about the Mariana snailfish is it survives and thrives under the crushing pressures of the deepest part of the ocean—the Mariana Trench, in the Pacific Ocean near Guam. (It also survives the frigid temperatures.)

How does it survive? Researchers found the snailfish possesses flexible skulls and bones which help to balance its internal and external pressure. Also, these snailfish have higher levels of a substance that stabilizes their protein levels. They not only survive; they thrive in depths around 23,000 feet below sea level.

Maybe when we wonder if we cannot hold up under the pressures of life, we can remember God gave this fish its unique qualities that equip it to survive under extreme pressure equivalent to an elephant stepping on your thumb!

What do you have that enables you to survive the pressures of life?

Internal resources?

• Faith in the Eternal God holds me steady. He keeps His promises. I can depend upon Him
• Experience and knowledge that I have survived challenges before and will get through them now
• Enough flexibility to ride the surging waves of life

External resources?

• Family members who provide camaraderie and support
• The prayers and friendship of friends like you who help another hold steady under pressure
• Trained counsellors/chaplains to consult when pressures are too great to bear

The Apostle Paul related his experience of surviving pressure:

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers (2 Corinthians 1:8-11a).

Written by Pastor Sherree Lane