
In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul reveals his experience of being 'pressed' beyond measure, teaching us that even spiritual giants reach breaking points. This pressure serves a divine purpose - to shift our trust from ourselves to God who raises the dead. When life crushes us like olives pressed for oil, God is more interested in the pure faith that emerges than our comfort. Finding hope in overwhelming circumstances comes through remembering God's resurrection power, reflecting on His track record of deliverance, and understanding that true deliverance often happens within difficult situations rather than removal from them. The pressure you feel today may be God's way of bringing you to the end of self-reliance.