Pressure surrounded him, but he never gave in.
Jeff and I began working together in a metal fabrication plant not long
after we both had graduated from high school. He worked in the quality control
department while I worked in the warehouse. But Jeff’s office was smack in the
middle of the warehouse I worked in.
Jeff’s job involved inspecting each part that came into the plant …
parts that workers would use to assemble various engineering projects … parts
that engineers would then ship to other plants where they would be used for
other purposes. Jeff felt the pressure of making sure the parts were up to par
and matched manufacturing specs.
But Jeff faced other pressures, too. Almost everyone he interacted with
was chained by some addictive substance. We were living through two decades
where such substances were almost the norm. Jeff never gave in to the pressure
to conform. Many of these same folks cheated on wives, had sex before marriage,
cursed, told dirty jokes. You name it, someone whom Jeff and I worked with
probably did it. Not Jeff.
In spite of the work pressure and the other pressures that surrounded
Jeff, he never caved in. I can’t say the same.
Jeff imitated David. Having been secretly anointed as the next king,
David ran from the current king who was jealous of David’s military conquests.
As David and his men hid in a cave, King Saul entered to relieve himself.
David’s men pressured him to kill the king. God had served the king up on a
silver platter for David. But David refused to give in to their pressure.
What pressures us may be neutral—neither good nor bad. This makes
situations even more complicated. When such circumstances occur, timing comes
into play. David knew God willed for him to take the kingship, but this wasn’t
the right time. So, he refrained from killing the king and waited on God to take
care of the rebellious ruler. Eventually, God did.
Through prayer and the study of God’s Word, we can not only determine
God’s will but we can also figure the timing of God’s plan. Others, although
unintentionally, may not give us good advice.
If the pressure involves actions or attitudes that violate God’s
principles, we don’t have to pray about our response or look to God’s Word for
guidance. Our answer should be the same as my friend’s when he was pressured by
those who invited him into their ungodly ways: “No.” God can also give us the
strength to say that.
When pressure comes—from whatever source—look to God for direction and
courage.
Prayer: Father, help us to stand firm when we are pressured to disobey
You.
Tweetable: How are you facing your pressures?
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