July 18 – Enduring the Hardships of Leadership

Micah 6:8

 

2 Corinthians 4:8–9

“We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

SITREP:

Ever felt like the pressure was coming from every direction? Like your strength was maxed out, your options were gone, and you were barely keeping it together? Paul knew exactly what that felt like—and he didn’t hide it. These words are from a man who’d been beaten, imprisoned, hunted, and betrayed. And yet, he doesn’t talk like a victim—he talks like a veteran. Wounded, but not wiped out. Pressed, but still standing.

Paul writes this to the believers in Corinth to pull back the curtain on what it really costs to lead in a broken world. This isn’t about appearances—it’s about truth. And the truth is, godly leadership means hardship. But with God, hardship doesn’t have the final say. These verses read like an after-action report from a battle-tested soul who’s learned that the strength to endure doesn’t come from within—it comes from above.

Breaking Down the Verse:

• “Hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed…”
– The pressure is real. It closes in. But God gives you the space to breathe, move, and keep fighting.

• “Perplexed, but not in despair…”
– You may not have all the answers, but you’re not hopeless. Confusion doesn’t cancel out God’s presence.

• “Persecuted, but not abandoned…”
– Leadership can feel lonely, but God never cuts you loose. Even when others walk, He stays.

• “Struck down, but not destroyed.”
– You may hit the ground. But you get back up. Not by sheer will—but by God’s hand pulling you to your feet.

How This Applies to a Soldier’s Faith:

You know the toll that leadership can take:

·         You absorb the hits so others don’t have to.

·         You carry burdens no one else sees.

·         You’ve been tired, doubted, even sidelined—but you keep pushing forward.

This verse is a warfighter’s anthem. It acknowledges that:

·         You will get hit.

·         You will feel stretched thin.

·         You will face confusion, criticism, and wounds.

But it also declares that:

·         You will not break.

·         You will not be abandoned.

·         You will not be destroyed.

Because your strength isn’t yours alone. You fight with heaven at your back. And every time you rise again, you're proving the resilience that only comes from God.

ENDEX:

You’ve taken hits. Maybe you're still taking them. But you're not down for good. 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 is your spiritual debrief—it says you’ve been through hell and didn’t stay there. You’re still standing, still leading, still fighting. And not because you're invincible—but because your God is. Keep moving, soldier. The battle isn’t over, and you're not alone in the fight.

AAR:

How do you keep moving forward when everything around you is falling apart? 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 is a combat report from a man who’s been through the wringer—pressed, perplexed, hunted, struck down. But not crushed. Not in despair. Not abandoned. Not destroyed. That’s resilience born of faith, not circumstance. Paul isn’t painting a rosy picture—he’s giving us the ground truth. You will take hits. But with Christ, you never go down alone. Your challenge: Think back to your last hard hit. Did you retreat, or did you lean into the One who fights beside you? This week, let your scars remind you that you’re still standing—because God hasn’t left your side.

Still Standing Means Still Dangerous

You’ve been hit, but you’re not done. That’s the mark of a warrior who fights with heaven’s strength. The world may press you from all sides, but it can’t pin you down when God is your shield. You may get knocked flat, but in Christ, you rise different—stronger, wiser, more lethal to the darkness than before. 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 isn’t a cry of defeat—it’s a declaration of survival. Every time you get back up, hell loses ground. So don’t count yourself out. If you’re still breathing, you’re still on mission. And that makes you a threat.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.