You cannot pour out to others until you have been pressed. The person who has never been hurt cannot comfort the grieving. The person who has never been broke cannot teach financial stewardship. Your pain is preparing you for your ministry.
When you are being crushed, the natural instinct is to hide. You feel ashamed of your weakness. Jakes argues that isolation is the most dangerous part of the process. You need a community—a "press crew"—to help you carry the weight. A Note on the "Crushing PDF" I know the temptation to find a free PDF online. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s free. However, as a community of faith, we are called to honor the labor of those who minister to us.
Whether it’s a financial setback, a broken relationship, a career failure, or a health crisis, life has a way of squeezing us until we feel like we have nothing left to give. In the Christian community, one book has become the go-to manual for navigating this specific type of pain: .