Day 71: Thriving Under Pressure

I remember being told by someone much older than me, “What are you worried about? You have nothing to be worried about,” They were so wrong, there were a million things for me to be worried about. We as young people get told all the time that we don’t know what it’s like to really worry or stress about something. Almost as if we don’t have the right to because we haven’t experienced enough.  But there is so much pressure on us sometimes, coming from every which way, we default to stress and worry, induced by pressure.  

James 1:12

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Mark 15:15

Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Luke 23:23-24

But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.

Pressure is interesting, it takes us out of ourselves. We start to do thing we wouldn’t normally do. When we are under pressure sin looks good to us, because we want relief from whatever it is we’re going through. The question here  is, can we stay faithful even when we are under pressure, can we find strength in our  savior, can we continue to move and push forward.

One of the best examples of cracking under pressure in the bible is when Pontius Pilate sentenced Jesus to satisfy the request of the people, against His better judgement. Pontius Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent He knew that the people were speaking lies against an innocent man. Yet the people pressured him into releasing a murderer, they pressured Him into sentencing an innocent man to death. Pontius Pilate was under so much pressure that He cracked. He ended up doing something that he did not want to do because the stress upon him was so great, He needed relief. Sadly, sometimes relief means cracking under pressure.  

We go through the same things, with our friends pulling on us, our parents expectations of us, the pressures and temptations of the world. Sometimes the pressure is too great that we just need some release. We can get temporarily relief, or we can thrive. We can stress drink, have sex, get high, give in to what the world is telling us to do. We can get temporary relief we need at the moment, or we can find the strength in Christ to stand on His word and not let our lives be altered by the pressures coming from the outside.

The biggest questions we ask ourselves in this situation is, How do I remain the person I want to be when I am under pressure? The answer is only a true relationship with God can assure us that even in the worst of times, if we remain faithful to God, our souls will not be corrupted. Our Spirits cannot be tainted. As scripture tells us, If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small (Proverbs 24:10). When we find our strength in the Lord we will not faint, we will not crack, or we will not give in to pressure. We will stand firm, we will soar. It’s hard, I know it is but God’s voice is louder than the rest, His presence is bigger, we are meant to please Him and no one else. God won’t pressure us into to doing something we don’t want to do, that’s why we must make the choice to follow Him. So we must make to the choice to thrive or give in.

Isaiah 40: 31

But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.

Reflection

1. What pressures do you feel coming from those around you, of any?
2. Do you feel the need to please people and meet their expectations of you?
3. Are you going to thrive or crack under pressure?

Prayer Time

Allow your answers to the above questions guide your prayer today. Talk to God about the pressures you feel, if any, the stress you are under or whatever is causing you to do things you would not normally do. Ask Him for spiritual strength so that you will not give in, ask Him to help you thrive under the pressure and stay close to Him.

I love you!, I hope you have an amazing day or evening! Make sure you come back tomorrow for Day 72!.