Walking Under Pressure
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)
We’ve all had those days where it starts out great and slowly goes down hill from there. As you continue throughout the day, you can feel the pressure mounting and frustration trying to slip in. Two things end up happening. You either blow from the pressure or you remain calm and continue on through the day. That was my day yesterday…and I chose to keep walking through it which made a world of difference.
As I drove home yesterday, I began praying about the day and asking God some questions which is pretty normal for me. I then began to search for the Christian radio station I listen too. Lost in thought and not really even listening to the radio, I hadn’t even realize I had it on a secular station. Then I heard the song…Under Pressure…by Queen and David Bowie. That surely did fit my situation but later on I decided to look up the words as I only knew a few of them:
Pressure pushing down on me, pressing down on you, no man ask for. Under pressure that brings a building down, splits a family in two, puts people on streets…It’s the terror of knowing what this world is about watching some good friends Screaming ‘Let me out’. Pray tomorrow – gets me higher Higher High…
How true! The pressure of life and situations, if allowed, can destroy families, take down marriages, and make people do things out of fear and frustration that they normally wouldn’t do. When we hear about a storm coming, we become fearful and practically buy out the store and become more fearful and frustrated when we aren’t able to get the items we need because they are already bought out. Yet, if we had only planned better, storing up reserves when the weather was good, we wouldn’t have to worry. We may have only needed a couple immediate things instead of many things which we weren’t able to get.
The same is true with prayer. When we pray daily and read God’s word, we are storing up reserved strength for unexpected situations that may come our way. Because we have that reserved strength, we are able to get through the situation or difficulty better, trusting that God is in control instead of trying to take care of everything in our own power. With reserved strength, we won’t become frustrated but see things as they are, take it in stride and walk through it. If we allow perseverance to do its work, we will mature spiritually and grow. We should never try to get out of any situation too soon or risk disrupting the growth process the Lord has us under.
The song goes on to ask why we can’t give ourselves one more chance…give love one more chance. 1 Peter 4:8 states:
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Love overcomes many obstacles, helps us to forgive offenses and hurts, can help us to see through situations more clearly.
Yesterday I started out my day with prayer and reading the Word. Because of this, I had my reserves for getting through the day and enjoying it even though it didn’t go as planned.
When monkey wrenches are hitting your day and it’s not going as planned, how do you react? If you were to find out you lost your job or were about to lose your home, how would you handle it? If you came face to face with a devastating situation, where would you turn? Maybe you are facing these things right now. How are you handling it thus far? With fear and frustration or with faith and calmness knowing God is in control and will provide. Do you have enough spiritual strength stored up to get through the situation?
Take a minute to think about this. There’s no time like the present to begin praying and reading God’s Word and begin storing up your reserved strength. The one thing about God is that His strength comes immediately. Surrender your situation over to Him and allow Him to do His work in you. We know that in order for a diamond to become beautiful, it must go through a heavy process of high heat and pressure. In order for God to make you beautiful on the inside, He must put you through a heavy process of high heat and pressure. Pray for the endurance to walk through it. The outcome will be well worth it!
Lord, give me the strength to endure the process I am going through in order to become like a beautiful diamond. Help me to see what you want me to learn out of each situation so I can pass it along to others who are undergoing great pressure at this time. I know that you have a reason for everything and that you are a faithful God who will see me through until the end. I ask this in Jesus name…Amen.