In Times Of Pressure

How you respond in times of pressure is telling of the quality of faith you have in Christ.

Pardon the weak illustration, but before products are sold, they undergo several tests to ensure it will meet the customer's need, but also if it is durable to withstand the stress of being used (or even misused) in various environments. Several years ago I watched a program of what they do to cell phones when dropped, submerged or nearly crushed.

Likewise, faith is meant to be stretched, tried and tested as we are being conformed to His likeness. Faith in Christ is what carries us through every season, be it good or difficult. Faith roots and grounds us to the Scriptures. What we read and mediate in the Scriptures helps to reinforce believing God who helps us as we go about our day. Faith is about applying the promises of God to every circumstance we encounter and trusting God to answer us as He determines what is best for us.

Sadly, many remain at the point of entry into the Christian walk and at the first sign of trouble or difficulty they shrink back. God is not pleased when we shrink back (Hebrews 10:38) but rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Faith demands absolute trust in Christ alone which our flesh will resist. The flesh wants a list of dos and don'ts, to see and touch. It want's to reason and analyze which might be all right, if doing it with a renewed mind. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (KJV).

If we can sum it up in one word, faith is in the Person of Jesus Christ. As an old hymn describes, everything else is sinking sand! He alone is to be trusted and every word in the Scriptures. We can rest our hope fully on His promises in a challenging and changing world.