Pressure Points

As a productivity coach, one thing I talk to my clients about is pressure. I ask them what area of their life and business are they feeling the most pressure. Normally this helps to identify areas where a solid routine needs to be implemented. 

There are many reasons why a person can experience pressure: There may be a particular person that is causing stress or a particular situation that is presenting a high level of uncertainty. Sometimes pressure comes when life just seems like it's too much!
 

Everyone at some point in their life feels pressure. Sometimes people make things in life look easy and so effortless. But trust me; we all must develop the skill of pressure management.

When God calls us to fulfill our kingdom assignments, we are saying yes to developing the skill of pressure management. When you said yes to God, did you wonder what level of pressure it was going to involve? If we really knew, would we step out and do what God wants us to do? Or would we even be excited about it?

When it comes to pressure, it's important for you to know that pressure is relative. Don't compare your level of pressure to someone else's. We must be intentional not to minimize what someone is going through and be intentional about not minimizing what we ourselves are going through.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT) - "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."

Those verses identify different levels of pressure: pressed down, perplexed, hunted down, and knocked down. Pressure can come from one area or all areas. It can come from one side or all sides. No matter what degree of pressure someone is feeling, they have to develop the skill of pressure management

If you study the life of Paul in scripture, he was in many situations that created pressure. He was put in jail, shipwrecked, and bit by a snake. We see how he was victorious in all these situations, but I'm sure it wasn't easy on the inside. He had to develop the skill of pressure management. Those situations didn't crush him and I'm here to remind you that your pressure points won't crush you. God may not take our pressure away, but he can use it.

Let's unpack these verses some more.

2 Corinthians 4:8‭-‬9 (NIV) - "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed" - This suggests that pressure can crush you. The key to not being crushed by the pressure is knowing what to do with the pressure. I know people that have been crushed by their pressure and they've given up. When it comes to pressure management, pre-decide that you won't give up!

"perplexed, but not driven to despair." - This tells us that pressure can come because of uncertainty or something very difficult, but we are not without hope. To manage this pressure, we have to renew our minds with the word of God!

"persecuted, but not abandoned" - Pressure can come from other people. We can sometimes try to fulfill the expectations of others, even if they are unrealistic. Pressure comes when we begin to perform to a standard that is not in alignment with our purpose. We are accepted and loved by the Father. People may abandon you, but our God will never abandon you. We manage this pressure by seeking to please the Father.

"struck down, but not destroyed." - Pressure tries to keep us down and prevent us from taking action. As we are operating in our kingdom assignments, we may hit a rough spot or a bump in the road. Yes, that brings pressure. But we must keep going. The calling on your life remains, even through adversity. We manage this pressure by taking bold action.

I want you to be encouraged today that pressure makes diamonds. The pressure you experience can be turned into power. Think about Jesus when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was going to be crucified. 

Matthew 26:36-39 (NIV) - "Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

In this moment of great pressure, Jesus chose to surrender. We see here that the world's greatest power came from Christ's greatest pressure. As we are on this journey with Jesus, we will experience pressure. In our greatest moments of pressure, we have an opportunity to live a life of surrender.

That's what I want to encourage you to do today. I know that life can get crazy. But in the crazy, we have an opportunity to trust. How are you trusting God in the pressure? What action are you going to take in the pressure?