Dec 2

Dec 2 Pressure Points

Anyone else feeling under pressure lately? Everything might seem fine on the surface but underneath you are being bombarded with attack.

Maybe with problems you didn’t even see coming, with opposition and obstacles you thought you had already overcome.

But this time it’s different. It’s like the pressure is pointing to all of your weaknesses.

It’s bringing up all of your fears and insecurities. And you don’t know how the promise is going to stand.

This last week I have been in this exact place and I knew that I could either let the resistance cut me or refine me.

I could let the pressure point to my fear or my purpose. I could let the pressure point me to my faults or God’s strength. I could let doubt destroy me or courage take hold of me.

We need to remember who holds the power. We need to know that the greater the pressure, the greater the diamond that is formed.

‘So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.’
1 Peter 1:6-7

God has given us the opportunity to experience resistance, so we can be reminded of how much we need him.

There may be obstacles in the natural but it is often spiritually and mentally where you are under the greatest attack.

During this time we need to evaluate every thought and action, as to whether it is a result of our fear or faith.

Sometimes God uses pressure to put everything into perspective. It’s when you’re in your toughest moments that your character and faith are truly tested.

And that can be scary but it can also be empowering, if you let your pressure point to the power of God.

‘In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
and the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.’
Psalms 118:5-7

I’m learning that being confident under pressure is not naïvety. It’s about knowing how faithful my God is.

It’s trusting in the word he has given me. It’s seeing the lessons and opportunities he is giving me under this pressure and believing in his promises.

It’s realising that if it weren’t for the pressure, I would take all the glory for myself. If it weren’t for the opposition, I wouldn’t need the sword of the spirit or the shield of faith.

That yes, this pressure points out all of my weaknesses but it also means only God can get the glory.

So don’t give up friends, don’t give into the stress. It’s time to rise up and take courage!