Don’t Fail Under Pressure

1Corinthians 10:13(ESV)
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

At the end of our day, some of us just want to collapse on the sofa and forget about everything, but we know we can’t. Most of the time, life feels like a chore, and we’ve forgotten what happiness looks like. The pressure to keep all the balls in the air is relentless, and in the back of our minds, we’re wondering how much longer we can go on with things the way they are. It seems that pressure is coming from all directions, and that’s not the way God designed life. Many people feel boxed in by anxiety over problems they don’t believe can be solved, and this kind of pressure shows up in all kind of situations; social, recreational, work, and family. It causes us to feel as though we must achieve and accomplish everything on our plate in order to meet the expectations of others. In this way, some pressures in life can create a kind of personal pain, and it moves us further away from the peace and contentment God wants us to have.

A vital piece of information that is very helpful to handling pressure is the reality that we can change its impact on our lives. The stresses of life are different for everyone, and by the same token, each of us handles them differently. What you consider stressful might not be stressful for someone else. The situation is very similar, but the other person might communicate and respond to it in a way that masters the moment. So, we can very definitely be taught to tap into our innate and intuitive skills in a greater way. If we take a pause and retrain our minds to respond in faith, we can end up being a strong and resourceful benefactor to our very own lives.

This is possible, and we know that it is because God tells us so. 2Timothy 1:7(NLT) declares, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” This verse informs us that God has given some yummies. He’s given us spiritual gifts and callings, and Romans 11:29 tells us that He doesn’t do a take-back. In other words, He will never revoke or withdraw them. So, in 2Timothy 1:7, He provides some phenomenal and extremely helpful information. First, He reveals that fear and shyness or timidity are spirits, and they don’t come from Him. The second is the glorious reality that He indeed has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. These came from Him, and He will not take them back.

We are empowered by God to run the race that He has set before us, and He tells us in Hebrews 12:1 to strip off all the weight that slows us down so we can run with endurance. There’s so much that we can glean from that wisdom. Right off the bat, we see that we need to strip off some stuff, and we are the ones to do the stripping. We are not weaklings. In truth, through Jesus Christ, we are spiritual powerhouses. Hebrew 4:16(NLT) says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” We are to come before God’s throne with the boldness of knowing who He has made us in Christ. He knows what He’s given us. He knows that He’s empowered us to be more than conquerors through Jesus Christ, but we have to know it, and we have to own it.

You are not a failure, so do not fail under pressure. Through Jesus Christ, God has made you able to walk this earth with confidence, peace, and enjoyment. He’s given you the spirit of love, power, and self-discipline to accomplish this. So, when we pause to contemplate our lives, we must recognize that some of the stuff we’ve been carrying has nothing to do with the God’s purpose for our lives. We must wake up to the reality that running the wrong race with extra weight we were never meant to carry is not a workable strategy. When we can’t see a way to strip off what weighs us down and put on what sets us free, the pressure has interfered with our ability to concentrate on the purpose for which we were called. It’s moving us away from the place God has destined us to be. We must have total confidence that He can get us back on track, but we have to want this for ourselves, and we must be willing to surrender to Him.

God says in Philippians 4:6(NLT), “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” That’s a choice! It’s a choice to say to God that you are willing to place all your trust in Him. This is precisely what He commands us to do in Proverbs 3:5-6(NLT), “5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” God is the One with the plan for our lives, and when we decide to lean on Him, He will make our burdens light. Come boldly before God’s throne. Tell Him all about your cares and do so with faith and a humble heart. Then listen, for He knows how to get your attention. He’s going to give you strategies for peace and victory, and as you follow them, the pressures in your life will be relieved. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

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