“Character is revealed when pressure is applied.” Unknown

Pressure reveals what’s inside of you. What you say and how you react is either in accordance to your thoughts and feelings or God’s. We can choose to react out of emotion, what ‘it looks like’, think that we’re in control, or operate in belief that our obedience to (and relationship with) God is a factor in the outcome of the situation.

The kingdom of God can seem counterintuitive. Bless those who curse you, love your enemies, pray for them that use you etc. (Matt 5:43-48) It goes against human reason. God has ways to carry out plans in ways that we could not orchestrate ourselves. I love His unpredictability and am grateful for His faithfulness.

Surely, there have been moments you’ve thought, “I couldn’t have made that happen in a million years.” However, God does things according to His will – which always results in your best interest. (Results mean you must endure till the end to receive it.) But it’s not all about what He can do. What He can do depends on you carrying out your responsibility. God has a part and you have a part. Most times it’s God that’s waiting on you to do your part – not the other way around.

Believers are to walk according to the Spirit, and what God teaches about the workings of spiritual and natural realms. You must to speak what God says about the situation, not what you see. Your words have power.

Speak the specific Word of God that’s opposite to the apparent situation and the pressure you’re experiencing. This implements your faith to activate His power to overcome the situation. The Bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). This means that whatever is in you, is going to come out – especially when you come under pressure. We can be, say and do all kinds of ideocracies when under pressure. That’s why we need to pay attention to ourselves, control our emotions, and not let our emotions run the show.

Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving], for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].  James 1:19-20 AMP

When mature in the Lord and fortified by the Word of God, you receive who He said He IS. You trust what He says He will do. I mean you don’t gotta freak out about any situation. You can have confidence knowing that this is just a bump in the road, a wave in the surf, and ride it out knowing that it’s all going to work out in your favor.

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. Romans 8:28 AMP

Pressure is an illusion that tests resiliency, maturity and reveals what is invested into your heart. Pressure is supposed to squeeze out faith-filled character as a result of the Word of God in the depths of your heart, from renewing your mind and cultivating yourself in the Word out of love. Sometimes pressure squeezes out and reveals the fear in us.
Fortunately, if we acknowledge where we’re at, we can change for the better. We can cast out fear and become full of faith.

For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1: 7 NKJV

“A diamond is a lump of coal that did well under pressure.” Henry Kissinger

So if under pressure, be a brilliant diamond of God. A diamond maximizes light return through the top of the diamond. When God’s light is displayed, especially in trying times, it is a beacon of hope for others, matures us, and gives the Father glory. Ultimately when we trust and believe God no matter what, we live in peace and gratitude, knowing that all will work together for good. So don’t let anything take your shine. Become better under pressure.

How you act in situations reflects what you believe. Look for ways to demonstrate your faith even in bad situations. Regardless of anything, prove your faith is stronger so you can access victory and grow.

Scripture References:

– for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]

2 Corinthians 5:7 AMP

– For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.

Ephesians 6:12 AMP

– The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the[intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart.

Luke 6:45 AMP