How Do You Handle Pressure In Life?

THU Evening Prayer Reflection 070121 (Ps 131; Luke 23:13-25)

The life of Pilate does not cease to fascinate me. This is a life that was immersed in politics in such a way his identity was completely meshed in it. The reason I say this, is because I often wonder what he would have decided about the fate of Jesus, should he not have succumbed to social and political pressure of the people. There is no need for any of us to blame him because he represents an attitude, we all struggle with a lot in our lives. This is an attitude to please others at all costs. When everything is all about how we negotiate, the best interests win our zeal. This is very true for any of us, but sometimes we have to listen to our conscience, to do the right thing. That’s where Pilate was when he told the crowd twice that he finds no grounds to have this man put to death. The difference here is that he simply changed his mind because of the pressure. What if someone powerful was behind the crowd’s opinion? How was he going to face it? It appears that fear can be the culprit when it comes to hasty, unwise and irrational decisions. Pilate flipped, he knew he had allowed the crowd to have their way and an innocent men sent to his death. Was his word trustworthy as a man of authority? Here is the node of the issue: How do we react when we are under pressure? Is this a problem of Pilate alone?

Today’s Old Testament scripture tells us of King Saul’s dilemma when the prophet Samuel didn’t show up at the right time. He proceeded to do the burnt offerings because of the military pressure from the Philistines who were Israel’s enemy. Samuel said: “You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded you. The Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom will not continue; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart; and the Lord has appointed him to be ruler over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” Saul lost the Kingdom with just such a simple act of disobedience. We crack at pressure! A few years ago, my children and I watched a show where spies eventually admitted that everyone talks after torture.

So, if threatened or under such a powerful pressure, will we crack? It is a worthy question to ask because it would demonstrate how firm we are in our faith as people of honesty and integrity. Ps 131 says: “My soul is quieted within me.” Will we take time out to think? Will we be sensitive to the Holy Spirit or we will succumb to the pressure of the culture? This is a good reflection to have as we assess ourselves. Will we do everything in our power to please God and do what is right or will we do everything in our power to please people, so we can fit in with fallen human institutions and do what is against our conscience. It is a battle in the mind. Pilate lost that battle and certainly King Saul did lose it as well. Their battles are ours. I can assure you that Jesus knows every single battle that we face.

Earlier this morning, I came across a teaching that says: “It takes tremendous courage to face our hurts, our losses, anger and frustrations; it takes real compassion not to flee from our sufferings.” These are questions that are not leaving my mind in this reflection: “Am I that strong Jesus? Not to succumb to pressure in my own battles? Will I be courageous enough to face my fears and not lose faith?” The story of King Saul’s loss reminded me of the story of Esau and his twin brother Jacob. Esau was so hungry that when the pressure came, he cracked and sold his first born right for a very good meal. I have been hungry before. I know what that feels like. Only if we were strong enough in our faith to say No to external pressures of all kinds.

I am sure that the enemy of the followers of Christ is crafty and has all kinds of traps ready to create an environment of pressure. My prayer is that we would be strong to hold on to our faith in Jesus, that we would discern the ingredients of diabolical traps. I pray for divine wisdom to keep our faith and integrity intact. May we be victorious as Jesus is!