Pressure

In my mind, pressure is inextricably linked to motivation. Some people seem to thrive under pressure. They perform at their peak, innovate to accomplish tasks and often surprise themselves with what they are capable of. Then there are those of us who just fold like a cheap suit. My initial reaction is to put myself in the later category but I wonder if that isn't due in large part to the currently low state of my self appraisal. In fact, as I reflect on many of the jobs I've had in the past and much of my educational career I have actually performed relatively well under pressure, moderate amounts of pressure anyway. There seems to be a threshold, beyond which any additional pressure gets the best of me and I retreat. That threshold is not a static level but variable depending on my stress level and the type of pressure. For example, I seem to recall handling pressure when I worked in architecture and retail much better than when I worked in ministry.

There is something about working in ministry that lowers my tolerance for pressure. My best guess as to the reason for this discrepancy is that failure in architecture or retail does not seem to carry the same implications for my personal character that failure in ministry does. That is to say, if I fail in meeting a deadline in architecture or don't make a sale at the store it only reflects on my professional competence but if a ministry I am in charge of fails it feels like it reflects on my character in addition to my competence. All of this is bogus, however. The reality that so often eludes me is that, especially in ministry but in those other jobs as well, there is only one judge of my character and He accepts me because of what He has done for me. There is no amount of performance, pressure induced or otherwise, that could earn greater standing in His eyes and no amount of failure that could lose me His approval.

So, what implications does that have for pressure? I'd say that pressure is only pressure if you're under it. There is a nifty side-step that is available to those of us who follow Christ. All we have to do is realize that the only One who is over us such that pressure might be applied is God Himself and, miracle of miracles, instead of applying pressure, which He would certainly be within His rights to do, He has taken it all upon Himself and offers us and easy yoke and a light burden. So, when I feel pressure, like a whole mob clamoring for a new blog post, I just turn that responsibility over to Him and He empowers me to accomplish the task. Not to make myself great by my achievements but to make Him great by acknowledging Him in everything.