“Under pressure . . your faith . . shows.” James 1:3 The Message
“Pressure, rightly responded to with grace and faith, produces valuable, spiritual qualities.”
My thoughts today are about “pressures.”
Pressure of one sort or another seems an unavoidable part of everyday life – whether financial, relational, occupational, emotional, or spiritual pressure. It’s not all that pleasant when it’s happening, but all pressure is not bad. Some pressure is normal, and any pressure can turn out to be profitable. Without any pressure, you would under-achieve, never accomplishing your fullest potential. You get stronger by resisting what would weaken you; you become better through overcoming challenges requiring that you do so. Neither deadlines nor difficulties are unprofitable, except when self-imposed by your lack of planning or poor choices.
Though long ago, I still remember a high school science class when the teacher demonstrated the power of surrounding air pressure to crush a metal can when the air pressure inside was reduced significantly. The can collapsed! The object no longer had adequate pressure to withstand the forces against it. Don’t let that happen to you.
You may have heard the practical advice, “Don’t let the pressure get to you.” Is that possible, and if so, how? Pressure externally is not the problem you think it to be, as long as there is a sufficient force internally to resist and withstand it. Pressure exists; the answer is not found in life that is free from stress, strain, and anxiety.
Jesus both promised and warned, “These things have I spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NKJV. Listen to what God says to your heart. God’s Word inside your heart is the inner strength that withstands every outward force to the contrary. “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might . . that you may be able to withstand . . and having done all to stand, stand therefore . .” Read Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV.
“You are of God . . and have overcome, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NKJV. Safely in Christ Jesus and abiding in the truth and power of God’s Word, you are more than equal to any task or trouble you encounter. The Bible says that you need perseverance, character, and hope strongly within you. Do you know how those dynamic, spiritual qualities develop? Paul wrote, “knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance (produces) character, and character (produces) hope.” Romans 5:3-4 NKJV. Pressure, rightly responded to with grace and in faith, produces valuable, spiritual qualities. Tribulation, is a translation of a Greek word, “thilipsis,” describing “a pressing from all sides.” Paul describes an occasion of his being “pressed beyond measure, above strength . .” 2 Corinthians 1:2-10 KJV.
James, the brother of Jesus, confirms in his letter, “Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” James 1:2-4 NLT.
My prayer for you today is that in every pressure you will find His strength to withstand.