Day 162 Pressed, But Not Defeated

Pressed, But Not Defeated

📖 Psalm 129 | 1 Kings 8, Acts 7:51–8:13, Proverbs 17:1

by Torrie Slaughter

You’ve been pressed. Betrayed. Oppressed. And yet… you’re still standing.

Psalm 129 is the anthem of the persevering believer. It isn’t flowery or filtered. It’s raw, poetic, and profoundly real. It speaks for anyone who has endured trial after trial and somehow—by God’s grace—is still here.

“They have greatly oppressed me from my youth… but they have not gained the victory over me.” – Psalm 129:1–2

This is the voice of a survivor. It echoes through history, through Israel’s exile and slavery, through centuries of spiritual warfare—and it reaches you today. You’ve been afflicted, but not annihilated. Why? Because oppression never has the final word—God does.

“Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.” – Psalm 129:3

This graphic image shows the depth of pain—like a field torn open, long and deep. But it’s also a prophetic picture: furrows prepare the ground for something to grow. What the enemy meant for harm, God is preparing for harvest.

“But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.” – Psalm 129:4

Here comes the shift: God breaks what binds. The cords of the wicked are not permanent; they are subject to the power of the Righteous One. You may have been tied down, tangled up, or tormented—but deliverance is in God’s DNA.

“May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame… like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow.” – Psalm 129:5–6

Your enemies—whether demonic forces or toxic people—do not get the final say. Their attacks may be loud, but they’re temporary. Their roots don’t go deep. And their efforts? Ultimately ineffective.

🙌 Takeaway Truths:

• Oppression doesn’t own you. It may shape your scars, but it doesn’t steal your identity.

• God sees your struggle. And He acts—cutting cords, exposing enemies, and defending your destiny.

• Not all growth is good. Filter your circle. Some people wither fast when exposed to the Light.

• Spiritual endurance is evidence of God’s faithfulness. You didn’t survive by chance—you survived by promise.

🔥 Prayer:

Lord, You are our righteous deliverer. Thank You for seeing us in our affliction and for breaking every chain that would try to hold us back. Help us to endure with hope and trust, knowing that You are working even in the deep furrows of life. Strengthen our faith, and let Your justice prevail. In Jesus’ name, Amen.