The USS Thresher was a nuclear-powered submarine that sank in 1963, killing all 129 people on board. A series of events caused it to sink and then to implode due to the extreme pressure deep in the ocean.
Research equipment with cameras that could withstand the oceanic pressure were lowered and found the Thresher in five pieces. In addition, the cameras saw fish and other life forms that were previously unknown.
These sea creatures thrived in pressure strong enough to crush a submarine, How?
This article details features of a few specific deep-sea creatures. But the bottom line, Wikipedia says, is “Deep-sea organisms have the same pressure within their bodies as is exerted on them from the outside, so they are not crushed by the extreme pressure.”
These creatures aren’t crushed by deep sea pressure because their internal pressure is equal to it. In fact, many die (even explode) when they are brought to the surface for study because their pressure is no longer equalized.
We face a lot of pressures these days, don’t we? Making a living, keeping up with responsibilities, making time for those we love. Then we all have struggles against our own besetting sins. The world is getting less friendly to Christianity every day. And we have an enemy of our souls who seeks our destruction like a roaring lion.
We’re not equal to it in ourselves. “My flesh and my heart may fail,” Asaph says. Mine, too. Then he goes on to say, “but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).
The apostle John wrote, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The one within us is more than equal to the pressures around us.
“Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:7-8, HCSB).
Sometimes God relieves pressure by removing a burden from us. Other times, He gives us grace to bear it. Missionary pioneer Hudson Taylor said, “It doesn’t really matter how great the pressure is. What matters is where the pressure lies, whether it comes between me and God or whether it presses me nearer His heart.” We need to let pressures of life push us closer to our God. He invites us to cast our care on Him, to depend on His strength in our weakness, to come to Him for rest.
Revised from the archives.
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
Stray Thoughts 
Heartwarming words. Never thought of it that way, but when the pressures build to too much, yes, turning to God always helps with his Peaceful ways to calm our hearts and worries.
Peabea from https://peabea.blogspot.com
I was just reading of Israel getting caught between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea. What tremendous pressure! Yet trust in God and obedience to His Word gave them victory and brought them peace and rest.
The pressure on us can be hard to gauge until it comes out in a negative way.
Yes–too often pressure builds up and explodes onto others if we don’t deal with it.
Loved this. It’s a new way of looking at “He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world” and Paul’s declaration about our treasure in jars of clay. What an encouragment!
This encouraged me, too. I spend too much time looking at what’s causing pressure, thereby increasing the pressure. But when I lean on Him, He relieves the pressure.
So interesting about the tie-in with the deep-sea fish. I needed this post as an encouragement today; thank you, Barbara–
That was such a fascinating story to me, too.
What a thoughtful post, Barbara…and the timing is perfect! Thanks so much!
I really appreciate Hudson Taylor’s quote. Great post!
Great post. I liked this: The one within us is more than equal to the pressures around us.
My boys and I enjoyed learning about deep sea creatures so much; they have great adaptations for living both at great pressure but also in such utter darkness!
This is so interesting! I always love learning how nature (& God’s creatures) parallel with His spiritual teachings.
You have provided a powerful illustration on pressure in the story of the sub and living creatures. “The one within us is more than equal to the pressures around us.” Amen. Amazing, as well, that our God knew our frailty and provided the Holy Spirit for us.
Barbara,
thank you for your beautiful post. And most of all, thank you for reminding me that Greater is the Holy Spirit who lives in me than the pressures outside.
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