Steady Under Pressure
"Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." – 1 Corinthians 15:58
Life has a way of revealing what we are made of when the pressure turns up. Anyone can be pleasant when things are going their way, but the real test of character is how you respond when the bottom drops out. Do you stay steady, or do you let the storm control your spirit?
Jesus is our ultimate example of steadiness under pressure. In the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing the cross was before Him, He prayed in agony but stayed submitted to the Father’s will. When the crowd turned against Him, when His closest friends abandoned Him, when false accusations were hurled at Him, He did not lash out or lose control. He stayed focused on His mission.
The Apostle Paul modeled this same steadiness. Sitting in a prison cell, chained and facing uncertainty, he wrote letters filled with joy and encouragement to the churches. He could have given in to fear or resentment, but instead, he chose to see God’s hand at work even in the darkest place.
Steadiness under pressure does not mean you will never feel the weight of your circumstances. It means you refuse to let those circumstances dictate your attitude, your faith, or your obedience. It means you decide beforehand that your trust in God will not rise and fall with your situation.
People are watching how you handle the moments when the heat is on. Your family, your friends, and your co-workers are all learning something about your faith by how steady you are when life gets rough. A steady spirit is a powerful testimony because it tells the world your confidence is not in the changing winds of circumstance but in the unchanging character of God.
When the pressure builds, plant your feet in His promises. Refuse to let your temperament be tossed around by the waves of the moment. Be steady, knowing that the God who brought you this far will see you through to the other side.
Life has a way of revealing what we are made of when the pressure turns up. Anyone can be pleasant when things are going their way, but the real test of character is how you respond when the bottom drops out. Do you stay steady, or do you let the storm control your spirit?
Jesus is our ultimate example of steadiness under pressure. In the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing the cross was before Him, He prayed in agony but stayed submitted to the Father’s will. When the crowd turned against Him, when His closest friends abandoned Him, when false accusations were hurled at Him, He did not lash out or lose control. He stayed focused on His mission.
The Apostle Paul modeled this same steadiness. Sitting in a prison cell, chained and facing uncertainty, he wrote letters filled with joy and encouragement to the churches. He could have given in to fear or resentment, but instead, he chose to see God’s hand at work even in the darkest place.
Steadiness under pressure does not mean you will never feel the weight of your circumstances. It means you refuse to let those circumstances dictate your attitude, your faith, or your obedience. It means you decide beforehand that your trust in God will not rise and fall with your situation.
People are watching how you handle the moments when the heat is on. Your family, your friends, and your co-workers are all learning something about your faith by how steady you are when life gets rough. A steady spirit is a powerful testimony because it tells the world your confidence is not in the changing winds of circumstance but in the unchanging character of God.
When the pressure builds, plant your feet in His promises. Refuse to let your temperament be tossed around by the waves of the moment. Be steady, knowing that the God who brought you this far will see you through to the other side.
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1 Comment
Pastor Coates, thank you for this inspiring word. I find myself taking on the weight of world at times. I want to do my job well and I worry at times when things pile up. I use to wonder why it keeps happening to me then it hit me. You are loyal and you care. Do what you can and God will see you through. Do not complain look up and trust me.
nThis message confirms God hears us and he cares.
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