by Zeke Flores<\/p>\n
“But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they dreaded the sons of Israel<\/em>” (Exodus 1:12).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
There’s something strangely encouraging about this verse. Israel is being crushed under Pharaoh’s fear-driven oppression, yet God quietly flips the script. The very pressure meant to break them becomes the environment where they grow. It’s not that the suffering was good or easy; it’s that God refused to let the suffering have the final word.<\/p>\n
Most of us don’t grow in comfort. We grow in the places where we feel stretched, stressed, or pushed beyond what we thought we could handle. It’s not fun, but it’s real. And this verse reminds us that God doesn’t waste pressure. He doesn’t celebrate it, but He transforms it. What was meant to break you can actually strengthen you. What was meant to silence you can arouse your voice. What was meant to isolate you can push you into deeper dependence on God.<\/p>\n
If you’re in a time and place where life feels heavier than usual, don’t assume you’re losing ground. You might be multiplying in ways you can’t see yet. God has a long history of turning affliction into unexpected growth, and He’s not done yet.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Zeke Flores “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they dreaded the sons of Israel” (Exodus 1:12). There’s something strangely encouraging about this verse. Israel is being crushed under Pharaoh’s fear-driven oppression, yet God quietly flips the script. The very pressure meant to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[383,182],"class_list":["post-94642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-growth","tag-suffering"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18213,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-meant-by-speaking-the-truth-in-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":94642,"position":0},"title":"What is meant by “speaking the truth in love?”","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 23, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: \"That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58679,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/dont-be-a-victim\/","url_meta":{"origin":94642,"position":1},"title":"Don’t Be a Victim","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 4, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0by Perry Hall The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), in modern lingo, teaches these two counter-culture concepts: Suffering doesn't make you a victim when you find your blessing from God and not circumstances. Victimizing others doesn't make you powerful when your victims refuse to get their dignity through your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":88008,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-did-god-take-so-long-to-bring-israel-into-the-promised-land\/","url_meta":{"origin":94642,"position":2},"title":"Why did God take so long to bring Israel into the promised land?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Jeffrey, I have a question and would like to seek your wisdom. This pertains to God's purpose in the various journeys involving the children of Israel. What does the scriptures say or infer about God's purpose? 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I've read multiple answers of yours to questions about this and I've looked at countless other resources as well and no matter what, I can't seem to decide\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":66963,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-cross-was-an-ugly-torture-device\/","url_meta":{"origin":94642,"position":4},"title":"The Cross Was an Ugly Torture Device","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton That is true, but men meant evil, while God used it for our good. How can a torture device be made for our good and bless us with forgiveness of sins? It is not the device itself, as if the physical item holds some mystical magic.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35113,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-good-side-to-the-down-side-of-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":94642,"position":5},"title":"The Good Side to the Down Side of Life","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Tau Alpha Kappa (i.e. anonymous) Sentry Magazine, September 1999 I Peter 1. 6- 7 says something extraordinary in that it points out there is a good side to the downside of life. 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