The Love of the Brethren

In January of 2025, I removed myself from a body of believers in a desperate attempt to release tremendous pressure I was feeling. I wondered how this pressure got so intense to the point where I felt my only escape was to abruptly remove myself and cease all communication.

Upon prayer and reflection, here are some things that led up to this pressure:

I spent more time meeting with the women than I did in my own time with God and His Word. I thought that studying His Word with them was just as good since I was in His Word, but nothing can replace our personal time of study and prayer with the Father.
My identity seemed to become more about “my works” than Christ and I projected that onto my family and friends, expecting “works” from them and getting frustrated when they didn’t live up to my expectations.
I found myself becoming more focused on pointing out sin in other people and neglecting to recognize the pride growing in my own heart and that the fruit of the Spirit was lacking in my life.
I was not rooted and grounded in God’s love for me so I felt tossed around by every wave of emotion.

Immediately after leaving, the pressure ceased and for a moment I felt some relief. However, it was not long until I began feeling sad for how I left those that I loved. I knew I created great confusion, hurt, and anger by leaving with no real explanation and no transparency in what I was dealing with leading up to my departure.

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
Proverbs 28:13 NASB® 1995

Over the following months, there were times that I would be overcome with sadness, as if I was feeling their sadness that I caused. In those moments, I would stop and pray for them. I would pray that God would love on them. I tried to move on with simply living my life out for God, but in my spirit, I knew that something was not right. How could I move on from people I loved and who loved me, people that I knew were pursuing Christ and living out their faith with pure and sincere hearts?

If someone says, “I love (agapao) God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love (agapao) his brother whom he has seen, cannot love (agapao) God whom he has not seen.
1 John 4:20 NASB® 1995

But the goal of our instruction is love (agapé) from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1 Timothy 1:5 NASB® 1995

God gave me a few dreams that involved having conversations with one of the women in the group I left and those dreams gave me peace. I felt those dreams were to show me that we would be reunited one day. I began to pray that in His timing, He would bring us back together.

Around August of 2025, I had a desire for the opportunity to apologize to the group for the pain I had caused and to ask them for forgiveness. It was around this time that the same sister I had a dream about reached out to me for the first time since I left. She reached out to me in obedience to God as God had put me so strongly on her heart and she could not shake it. God answered my prayer by providing this opportunity to apologize first to her. It was a brief conversation, but it was a small step towards reconciliation.

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14 NASB® 1995

Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Matthew 5:23-24 NASB® 1995

In September, I began studying the book of Ephesians. The first three chapters of Ephesians were like living water to me. I realized that I had been like those described in the letter to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:

‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love (agapé).
Revelation 2:2-4 NASB® 1995

My “Deeds” had been a result of my own understanding from my own mind to strive to “prove” that I belonged in God’s family as opposed to His working out His purposes through me because of His love for me.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB® 1995

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love (agapé), may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love (agapé) of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19 NASB® 1995

Late 2025/Early 2026 that same sister and I had small sporadic conversations, mostly about her son going to the same college as my son. I was hesitant and a little fearful of connecting back with her. I didn’t think that I deserved her love or kindness for the hurt I caused. Soon after, I received a message from her that simply said “I love you, dear” and that broke off the fear and lies that I had towards her and gave me peace.

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
Proverbs 15:1a NASB® 1995

Above all, keep fervent in your love (agapé) for one another, because love (agapé) covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NASB® 1995

“Deeds”; “Works”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Deeds” and “Works” is ergon (2041): Work, deed, action, task, labor
- HELPS Word-studies: 2041 érgon (from ergō, "to work, accomplish"): a work or worker who accomplishes something. 2041/érgon ("work") is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intention, purpose).
“Love”: Strong’s: The Greek verb for “Love” is agapaó (25): To love
- HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 25 agapáō – properly, to prefer, to love; for the believer, preferring to "live through Christ" (1 Jn 4:9,10), i.e. embracing God's will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power. 25 (agapáō) preeminently refers to what God prefers as He "is love" (1 Jn 4:8,16). See 26 (agapē). With the believer, 25 /agapáō ("to love") means actively doing what the Lord prefers, with Him (by His power and direction). True 25 /agapáō ("loving") is always defined by God – a "discriminating affection which involves choice and selection" (WS, 477). 1 Jn 4:8,16,17 for example convey how loving ("preferring," 25 /agapáō) is Christ living His life through the believer.
“Love”: Strong’s: The Greek noun for “Love” is agapé (26): Love
- HELPS Word-studies: 26‍ ‍agápē – properly, love which centers in moral preference. So too in secular ancient Greek, 26 (agápē) focuses on preference; likewise, the verb form (25/agapáō) in antiquity meant "to prefer" (TDNT, 7). In the NT, 26 (agápē) typically refers to divine love (= what God prefers).

Lesson in Love

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved (agapáō) you, that you also love (agapáō) one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love (agapé) for one another.”
John 13:34-35 NASB® 1995

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love(agapáō) the brethren. He who does not love (agapáō) abides in death.
1 John 3:14 NASB® 1995

Now as to the love of the brethren (philadelphia), you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love (agapáō) one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 NASB® 1995

“As I have loved”, “Love”, “Loves”, and “Loved”: Strong’s: The Greek verb for “As I have loved”, “Love”, “Loves”, and “Loved” is agapaó (25): To love
- HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 25 agapáō – properly, to prefer, to love; for the believer, preferring to "live through Christ" (1 Jn 4:9,10), i.e. embracing God's will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power. 25 (agapáō) preeminently refers to what God prefers as He "is love" (1 Jn 4:8,16). See 26 (agapē). With the believer, 25 /agapáō ("to love") means actively doing what the Lord prefers, with Him (by His power and direction). True 25 /agapáō ("loving") is always defined by God – a "discriminating affection which involves choiceand selection" (WS, 477). 1 Jn 4:8,16,17 for example convey how loving ("preferring," 25 /agapáō) is Christ living His life through the believer.
“Love”: Strong’s: The Greek noun for “Love” is agapé (26): Love
- HELPS Word-studies: 26‍ ‍agápē – properly, love which centers in moral preference. So too in secular ancient Greek, 26 (agápē) focuses on preference; likewise, the verb form (25/agapáō) in antiquity meant "to prefer" (TDNT, 7). In the NT, 26 (agápē) typically refers to divine love (= what God prefers).
“Love of the brethren”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Love of the brethren” is philadelphia (5360): Brotherly love, love of brothers
- HELPS Word-studies: 5360 philadelphía (from 5384 /phílos, "loving friend" and 80 /adelphós, "a brother") – properly, affection for the brethren (fellow-believers).

The following verses in 1 Peter and John remind me of why my sister reached out to me after I left and never once chastised, accused, or demanded of me any explanation as to why I left. She was simply being obedient to God and extended His love towards me.

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren (philadelphia), fervently love (agapáō) one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 Peter 1:22-23 NASB® 1995

“This is My commandment, that you love (agapáō) one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love (agapé) has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love (agapáō) one another.
John 15:12-17 NASB® 1995

To truly love, we must humble ourselves and think of our fellow brethren above ourselves, even if we are justified in our pain or hurt.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4 NASB® 1995

A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 NASB® 1995

We must recognize who the real enemy is and the source of any quarrel.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 NASB® 1995

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
James 4:1 NASB® 1995

It is imperative that we know how scripture instructs us to live our lives because our flesh nature does not know this truth instinctively.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love (agapé), being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3 NASB® 1995

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love (agapé), I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love (agapé), I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love (agapé), it profits me nothing.
Love (agapé) is patient, love (agapé) is kind and is not jealous; love (agapé) does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 NASB® 1995

These verses in Colossians clearly lay out our mandate as those chosen of God to love one another and what that practically looks like:

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love (agapé), which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:12-16 NASB® 1995

Put on a heart of “Compassion”, “Kindness”, “Humility”, “Gentleness”, “Patience”
- “Compassion”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Compassion” is oiktirmos (3628): Compassion, mercy, pity
  - HELPS Word-studies: 3628 oiktirmós – properly, compassion (pity), i.e. deep feeling about someone's difficulty or misfortune (TDNT, 1:159).
    3628 /oiktirmós ("visceral compassions") is used of the deep feelings God has for all of us, and powerfully shows and shares in those following Him.
- “Kindness”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Kindness” is chréstotés (5544): kindness, goodness, gentleness
  - HELPS Word-studies: 5544‍ ‍xrēstótēs (a noun, derived from 5543 /xrēstós, "useful, profitable") – properly, useable, i.e., well-fit for use (for what is really needed); kindness that is also serviceable. 5544/xrēstótēs ("useful kindness") refers to meeting real needs, in God's way, in His timing (fashion). Hence, 5544 (xrēstótēs) is listed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). With the believer, 5544/xrēstótēs ("divine kindness") is the Spirit-produced goodness which meets the need and avoids human harshness (cruelty). "We have no term that quite carries this notion of kind and good" (WP, 1, 92).
- “Humility”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Humility” is tapeinophrosune (5012): Humility, lowliness of mind
  - HELPS Word-studies: 5012 tapeinophrosýnē (a noun, derived from 5011 /tapeinós, "low, humble" and 5424 /phrḗn, "moderation as regulated by inner perspective") – properly, low; humility, "lowliness" of human pride (self-government); that quality of mindset of "having a humble opinion of oneself, i.e. a deep sense of one's (moral) littleness – i.e. lowliness of mind" (J. Thayer). In Scripture, 5012 /tapeinophrosýnē ("lowliness, humility") is an inside-out virtue produced by comparing ourselves to the Lord (rather than to others). This brings behavior into alignment with this inner revelation to keep one from being self-exalting (self-determining, self-inflated). For the believer, 5012 /tapeinophrosýnē ("humility") means living in complete dependence on the Lord, i.e. with no reliance on self (the flesh).
- “Gentleness”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Gentleness” is prautés (4240): gentleness, meekness
  - HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 4240 praýtēs (compare 4236 /praótēs, another feminine noun which is also derived from the root pra-, emphasizing the divine origin of the meekness) – meekness ("gentle strength") which expresses power with reserve and gentleness. For the believer, meekness (4240/praýtēs, "gentle-force") begins with the Lord's inspiration and finishes by His direction and empowerment. It is a divinely-balanced virtue that can only operate through faith (cf. 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22-25).
- “Patience”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Patience” is makrothumia (3115), it is a noun which means patience, Long-suffering, Forbearance
  - HELPS Word-studies: 3115‍ ‍makrothymía (from 3117 /makrós, "long" and 2372 /thymós, "passion, anger") – properly, long-passion, i.e., waiting sufficient time before expressing anger. This avoids the premature use of force (retribution) that arises out of improper anger (a personal reaction). 3115/makrothymía ("divinely-regulated patience") is used of God Himself (see 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:15). Indeed, only the Lord produces 3115/makrothymía ("true patience, longsuffering") in us and hence is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). 3115 (makrothymía) embraces steadfastness and staying-power. If in English we had an adjective 'long-tempered' as a counterpart to 'short-tempered,' then makrothymia could be called the quality of being 'long-tempered'. . . . which is a quality of God (LXX, Ex 34:6)" (F. F. Bruce, Commentary on Galatians, 253).
“Bearing” with one another
- “Bearing”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Bearing” is anechó (430): To endure, to bear with, to tolerate, to hold up
  - HELPS Word-studies: 430 anéxomai (from 303 /aná, "up/completing a process" and 2192/exō, "to have") – properly, "still bearing up," even after going through the needed sequence (course of action); to forbear; for the believer, "staying up" means living out the faith God works in.
“Forgiving” each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone
- “Forgiving”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Forgiving” is charizomai (5483): To grant, to give freely, to forgive, to show favor
  - HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 5483 xarízomai (from 5485 /xáris, "grace, extending favor") – properly, to extend favor ("grace"), freely give favor to grant forgiveness(pardon). 5483 /xarízomai ("favor that cancels") is used of God giving His grace topardon. This is freely done and therefore not based on any merit of the one receiving forgiveness. [5483 (xarízomai) literally means, "to exercise grace, freely show favor," i.e. willingly ("graciously") bestow.]
Put on “Love”, which is the “Perfect” “Bond of unity”
- “Love”: Strong’s: The Greek noun for “Love” is agapé (26): Love
  - Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: charity, love. From agapao; love, i.e., Affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast -- (feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.
    - For a love-feast description, see Healthy Gatherings.
  - HELPS Word-studies: 26‍ ‍agápē – properly, love which centers in moral preference. So too in secular ancient Greek, 26 (agápē) focuses on preference; likewise, the verb form (25/agapáō) in antiquity meant "to prefer" (TDNT, 7). In the NT, 26 (agápē) typically refers to divine love (= what God prefers).
- “Perfect”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Perfect” is teleiotés (5047): Perfection, maturity, completeness
  - HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 5047 teleiótēs (a feminine noun) – completion (consummation), in its cumulative sense, i.e. built on what has to precede and also supports the stage that must come next. See 5056 (telos). 5047 /teleiótēs ("consummation") particularly then suggests the combinationof truths (stages of spiritual growth), the culmination of which also supports future consummation.
- “Bond of unity”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Bond of unity” is sundesmos (4886): Bond, ligament, uniting principle
  - HELPS Word-studies: 4886 sýndesmos (from 4862 /sýn, "closely identity with" and 1210 /déō, "to bind") – properly, a bond (close union); a close (inner) identity which produces close harmony between members joined closely together (WP). [Note the "close, firm bond conveyed by syn (together," WS, 242).]
Let the “Peace” of Christ “Rule” in your “Hearts”
- “Peace”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Peace” is eiréné (1515): Peace
  - HELPS Word-studies: 1515 eirḗnē (from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness).
- “Rule”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Rule” is brabeuó (1018): To rule, to arbitrate, to decide, to govern
  - HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 1018 brabeúō – properly, "act as an umpire" (this is also the meaning of this term in classical Greek, as with Isocrates and Demosthenes, etc.); (figuratively) the peace (wholeness) from Christ that He uses to assure (confirm) a believer they are living in His preferred-will (cf. 2307 /thélēma). See 1017 (brabeion). 1018 /brabeúō ("decide as an umpire") means to arbitrate, i.e. "making the call" in "a conflict between contending forces" (Souter), used only in Col 3:15.
- “Hearts”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Heart” is kardia (2588): Heart
  - HELPS Word-studies: 2588 kardía – heart; "the affective center of our being" and the capacity of moral preference (volitional desire, choice; see P. Hughs, 2 Cor, 354); "desire-producer that makes us tick" (G. Archer), i.e our "desire-decisions" that establish who we really are. [Heart (2588 /kardía) is mentioned over 800 times in Scripture, but neverreferring to the literal physical pump that drives the blood. That is, "heart" is only used figuratively (both in the OT and NT.]
Be “Thankful”
- “Thankful”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Thankful” is eucharistos (2170): Thankful, grateful
  - HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 2170 euxáristos (from 2095 /eú, "well" and 5483/xarízomai, "grant freely") – properly, thankful for God's grace working out what is (eternally) good; grateful, which literally means "grace-ful (thankful) for God's grace" (what brings His eternal favor). 2170/euxáristos only occurs in Col 3:15.
Let the “Word” of Christ “Dwell” richly within you
- “Word”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Word” is logos (3056): Word, speech, message, account, reason, doctrine
  - HELPS Word-studies: 3056 lógos (from 3004 /légō, "speaking to a conclusion") – a word, being the expression of a thought; a saying. 3056 /lógos ("word") is preeminently used of Christ (Jn 1:1), expressing the thoughts of the Father through the Spirit.
- “Dwell”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Dwell” is enoikeó (1774): To dwell in, to inhabit
  - HELPS Word-studies: 1774 enoikéō (from 1722 /en "in," intensifying 3611 /oikéō, "dwell" at home, in one's personal residence) – properly, dwelling in a state (condition), i.e. at home; to inhabit ("in-habit") as one's personal residence (abiding indwelling).
“Teaching” one another with all wisdom
- “Teaching”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Teaching” is didaskó (1321): To teach, instruct
  - HELPS Word-studies: 1321 didáskō (from daō, "learn") – to teach (literally, "cause to learn"); instruct, impart knowledge (disseminate information). In the NT, 1321/didáskō ("teach") nearly always refers to teaching the Scriptures (the written Word of God). The key role of teaching Scripture is shown by its great frequency in the NT, and the variety of word-forms (cognates).
“Admonishing” one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
- “Admonishing”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Amonishing” is noutheteó (3560): To admonish, to warn, to instruct
  - HELPS Word-studies: 3560 nouthetéō(from 3563/noús, "mind" and 5087/títhēmi, "to place") – properly, to place the mind, i.e. reasoning with someone by warning (admonishing) them. 3560/nouthetéō ("admonish through instruction") especially appeals to the mind, supplying doctrinal and spiritual substance (content). This "exerts positive pressure" on someone's logic (reasoning), i.e. urging them to choose (turn to) God's best.

We should also remember that it is the Lord that causes us to increase and abound in love for one another, not from our own mind or human understanding. When He causes us to abound in love, our hearts are established, without blame in holiness before God our Father.

Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love (agapé)for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 NASB® 1995

Beloved, let us love (agapáō) one another, for love (agapé) is from God; and everyone who loves (agapáō) is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love (agapáō) does not know God, for God is love (agapé). By this the love (agapé) of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love (agapé), not that we loved (agapáō) God, but that He loved (agapáō) us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved (agapáō) us, we also ought to love (agapáō) one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love (agapáō) one another, God abides in us, and His love (agapé) is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love (agapé) which God has for us. God is love (agapé), and the one who abides in love (agapé) abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love (agapé) is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love (agapé); but perfect love (agapé) casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love (agapé). We love (agapáō), because He first loved (agapáō) us. If someone says, “I love (agapáō) God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love (agapáō) his brother whom he has seen, cannot love (agapáō) God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves (agapáō) God should love (agapáō) his brother also.
1 John 4:7-21 NASB® 1995

Truth About Tribulations

“Tribulation(s)”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Tribulation(s)” is thlipsis (2347): Tribulation, Affliction, Distress, Persecution
- Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: affliction, persecution, tribulation. From thlibo; pressure (literally or figuratively) -- afflicted(-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.
- HELPS Word-studies: 2347 thlípsis – properly, pressure (what constricts or rubs together), used of a narrow place that "hems someone in"; tribulation, especially internal pressure that causes someone to feel confined (restricted, "without options"). 2347/thlípsis ("compression, tribulation") carries the challenge of coping with the internal pressure of a tribulation, especially when feeling there is "no way of escape" ("hemmed in").

This internal pressure and feeling of “no way of escape” perfectly describes what I was experiencing in my story. Tribulation is something that we cannot always escape or avoid. Jesus promises us that in this world, we will face tribulations.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NASB® 1995

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
John 16:33 AMPC

In fact, we are shown in Acts that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14:22 NASB® 1995

When we find ourselves under this “pressure”, we must turn to God and get His mind on the matter and submit to His will in what the Holy Spirit reveals to you.

Whether the pressure is caused by external forces such as circumstances or people or internal anguish from sin, disobedience, lack of understanding of God’s Word, here is some truth to take hold of to combat, withstand, and overcome:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love (agapáō) your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love (agapáō) your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love (agapáō) those who love (agapáō) you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48 NASB® 1995

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3:2 NASB® 1995

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Titus 2:11-15 NASB® 1995

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love (agapé) of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved (agapáō) us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love (agapé) of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:31-39 NASB® 1995

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NASB® 1995

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.
2 Corinthians 1:3-11 NASB® 1995

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 NASB® 1995

References:

Strong’s Greek/Hebrew: Biblehub.com
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:Biblehub.com