What do you do when you come under pressure? Many people spend their days having mini meltdowns because life just gets to chaotic or stressful and they have to “let off steam”, have a temper tantrum, or rant at God and all those around them.
Pressure comes from a variety of sources. Sometimes it is our hectic schedules that we allow to get a little out of control, which cause us unnecessary pressure. If we didn’t try to cram so much into our day, or allow ourselves to be pressured by others expectations or be dictated to by our own insecurities, we often would live much more peaceful lives.
Another type of pressure comes when we put ourselves out there, and believe God for something. A desire of our heart, a dream that we finally get enough courage to pray and start to expect for. God may have revealed that He wants us to start believing for something because He desires to bless us.
That’s when the pressure comes in. Suddenly we discover the need for our faith to be activated. We have to put what I call “wheels on our faith”. We go to the word, see what God is saying and what He has promised, we meditate on this word, we pray, we speak it, we walk the process of faith, trusting and believing.
Perhaps we are believing for a new car, or debts to be paid off, to be healed of an illness. God has spoken, He has revealed His will for us to receive these things. But then things start looking worse. Our existing car suddenly breaks down and is undrivable, then something breaks down at home and is going to take our savings to fix it. We are not having a great day, and then to top it off one of the kids gets sick, or an illness appears to be worsening.
The pressure is on! What do we do? Our human response is to start muttering and then complaining to anyone who will listen and will offer some sympathy. “That’s terrible, you poor thing….” That’s what you need isn’t it? An understanding ear to listen to you of how bad things, are especially when you have been trusting and believing for the complete opposite.
But oddly enough, God doesn’t teach us that. Our faith works under pressure. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. God hasn’t called us to be shrinking violets, or people who “throw up their hands in doubt and defeat” when the pressure gets intense.
He says we are more than conquerors, that nothing is impossible, and that when we are weak then He is strong in us. When we come under pressure He says to Stand! Not sit down and give up, not talk doubt and unbelief, but to stand and only speak what God’s word says.
When Jesus was approached by Jairus to come and see his dying daughter, Jairus was a desperate man. But he had heard about and believed in Jesus. He pushed through the crowds and implored Jesus to come. Jesus followed this desperate father to come and see his little daughter. Before even reaching Jairus home people came running down the road to inform Jairus to not bother Jesus any longer because his little girl was dead. Jesus turned to Jairus and spoke some very important words “Do not fear only believe”.
If there was ever a man who had reason to give way to pressure, to fear here he was. Jairus had just been told it’s all over your daughter is dead, why trouble Jesus anymore. In the natural all hope was lost.
“Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him“.
They were held up along the way, while Jesus ministered to another person and, “While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus[b]saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement”. (Mark 5:21-43)
The devil’s tactic is to get us to stop believing, because when we stop believing our faith becomes inactive. We get into doubt and unbelief. That is exactly where our enemy wants us. He will do practically anything possible to get us to let go of our faith.
The main weapon in his arsenal is Pressure! He will use pressure from whatever and whoever he can to cause us to quit. He wants our words to start being ones of doubt, and for us to start speaking rubbish contrary to God’s promises. He’ll use people around us to “push our buttons”in the hope of hitting the right one.
But God says when we are under pressure, when we have done all that we can do, then is not when we lie down in defeat, No, then is when we Stand!
Jesus looked at Jairus and said a seemingly ridiculous statement to a man who had just been told his daughter was dead. “DO NOT FEAR, ONLY BELIEVE”, and because Jairus didn’t cave under the immense pressure to step into fear and doubt, that Father saw his little daughter raised back to life.
Today, if you are feeling under pressure, or the next time you feel “your buttons being pushed”, remember the enemy wants your words, he wants you to start speaking unbelief, doubt and fear.
Don’t give him the satisfaction of getting to you. Kick his sorry butt in the name of Jesus, and keep standing. Get hold of God’s promises in His word, and steadfastly, stubbornly, and with some real guts remain Standing! Remain believing for your promise to come to pass. Be patient, and know that God is at work because, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). What he said to Jairus, and a myriad of other people, he says to us today, “Do not fear, only believe”!
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. (James 4:7)
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”. (Hebrews 4:16)
Prayer: Lord Jesus I thank you that you are faithful to your word, and that you do not lie. I put a watch over my words, and refuse to get into speaking doubt and unbelief. I choose to walk in faith and believing today, trusting that you are in control. In Jesus name Amen.
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