pressure

My Dad thrives on pressure. I wish I did. Instead, I tend to shut down. I start to feel terrible about myself, get depressed. Sometimes I freak out. I have even had panic attacks.

I’ve learned that this is partially a result of not remembering God’s faithfulness. Taking time to slow down helps. But it doesn’t solve things altogether.

Maybe this is just how I’m wired?

I thrive under pressure. My wife’s a runner. I think much of this can be how we’re wired, and one’s not necessarily better than the other.

I love pressure, to be honest, because that’s the only time i really shine. Other than that, in the every day, I’m just an ordinary dude. I tend to wait for the pressure, or bank on the pressure, to push me to succeed or come out stronger where others do not.

but… I’ve come to to think that this is no way to live either… great, now you’ve made me feel bad.

Good question.

12 months ago - even 6 months ago I may have had a different answer.

Here is something I’ve learned.

Pressure is mostly self-inflicted

1 …from the FEAR of not measuring up (to sombody else)
2….from our own propensity to overload our schedules
3 …from our misunderstanding of who God is (or wants to be) in our lives.

Anytime you feel pressure, look over the three points above.

To counteract #1: There is no greater fear than fear itself. Lose the fear by walking in faith. In faith there is no fear.

To counteract #2: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” An abundant life includes time and portions for all good things in the order determined by God. God / Family / Everything else.

To counteract #3: Pray to know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily; and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power

Say it with me: Lord I give you my feelings of unworthiness and of fear of failure. I know that you hold my future, I know that in you I am complete and I again surrender every part of my life to your love and your power. Work through me.

Rev. V.

I really enjoy pressure, but I agree with bricksmom, it’s mostly self-inflicted. I am, by nature lazy, so pressure forces me to do something. I overload my schedule, that’s what gives me pressure. I think that if you’re being bogged down in pressure that it would benefit you to sit down and see what exactly is causing the pressure. One of our ministry interns took a week off just so he could get that desire and that yearning back for being a part of something bigger than himself.

Pressure…that’s how I preserved my green beans last week to make them last–sucks all the air out of the jars so that what’s important doesn’t spoil.

Hmmm.

I think we experience different kinds of pressure: those allowed or placed on our hearts by God, and those we create ourselves. It’s the pressure we create ourselves that can be menacing.

My experiance with pressure has resulted in the familure situation you described as “Now even just the slightest pressure is crushing to them… beyond their capacity to cope”. but….

Even though right now my capicity is really small with the Lords help I have faith I will get better and do better. I am really pressing into God for strength, encouragement, and correction. On my journey I’ve discovered that pride and not pressure is sometimes the real issue. To press into God I must deal with my pride…. He doeshelp but only when I ask… same with people.

Well, that’s my take on pressure…. ask me again in 6-months

I pray that you find the answers you are looking for.

Many blessings

I just keep coming back to this:

3 …from our misunderstanding of who God is (or wants to be) in our lives.

It has SOOOO much to do with your earlier posts on what it means to be dead.

Does a dead person experience pressure or stress?

So then…what is it that needs to die before we can live without feeling like pressure is going to overtake us?

hmmmm.

I’ve heard it said by one of our LA friends that often what we need to avoid burnout is not a vacation - it’s victory. I’m beginning to think that’s very true.