Under Pressure: A Link-Up in "Pages in Our Heritage of Faith"

This is a Christmas party we had a few years ago for our "small group" Bible study

Walking in His Peace and Sufficiency is a choice. It's one that has to be made regularly. Depending on how stressful a season in which we find ourselves, we may realize that the choice has to be made moment by moment, instead of day by day.


The holidays seem to bring out the best and worst in us, don't they? Our focus is on our families and friends, but while trying to make our celebrations wonderful for them, we can actually end up focusing on the celebration and not the people. When that happens, the pressure in our spirits can build up.


"What we are under pressure is what we really are." 


I heard that quote years ago and it stuck because it rang so true. When I find myself in a pressure packed situation, the true nature of my heart reveals itself clearly. If I trust in His Sufficiency for every thing that concerns me, I respond to the most stressful situations with His Grace and Love. But if my eyes EVER leave His Face, all bets are off. I can become irritated with the very people I am seeking to serve during these holidays, or any other time of year.


When that happens, the question must be asked: "Am I really seeking to serve? Or am I now trying to perform, seeking to impress my 'audience'?  A heart of service is outward focused. A heart desiring praise is inward focused. And when the heart is focused inward, anything that interferes with "what I want" causes a negative response in me, creating what is outwardly paradoxical: being impatient with the people I'm going to all this work to please. In reality, when performance is the focus instead of service, there isn't a paradox. My response reveals my motives. 


Thankfully, His Grace truly is Sufficient to accomplish His Purposes. But, it's NOT sufficient to accomplish mine, when those purposes are selfish ones. And if I am truly seeking to be daily put to death in the flesh, then these potentially stressful times present wonderful opportunities for me to desire Truth in the innermost places so that anything unholy in my heart is revealed and I can be presented with the choice to die a little more. All so that He can make me more into His Image.


"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."  II Corinthians 3:18


When the pressure we feel comes from an outside source, say a person who is difficult to be around, the same things apply. Even if that person chooses to focus on "performance" instead of service, I must choose to not allow the pressure they feel (and maybe their unkind words or actions) to elicit any response from me that is not focused on service. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, so that it may benefit those who listen." The key word here? "Their" needs. Not mine. I am not justified in reacting. Only in acting, in Love.


Knowing that during the holidays, I may be faced with situations in which I could be tempted to react wrongly to pressure allows me to intentionally "prepare for battle." 


"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Oh Lord, my Rock and My Redeemer."


His Faithfulness has brought me so far. Because He has continued to teach me these things, I can anticipate serving Joyfully, without the stress caused by a "performance" mind-set. I can be free to fully enjoy and embrace the additions to our "To Do" list, looking forward to giving freely the way He has given to me.


May all your holiday celebrations be filled with Love, Joy, and Peace as we focus on His Face. 

How has the Lord shown Himself Faithful to you? Would you share your story here? We LOVE to hear your testimonies to His Faithfulness in your lives. Grab the button and add it to your post, if you like, so that others may join us here. We seek to bring Him Glory through the words of our mouths, preserving the stories of His Faithfulness in our lives so that the next generation will put their trust in Him. (Psalm 78)