PRESSURE & Worry

PRESSURE!

Every person experiences it—

• in their job,
• in their marriage,
• in their role as a parent,
• in their ministry,
• in their friendships/relationships,
• in their various roles as provider, spiritual head of the home,
• in their physical health issues,
• and even in their walk with God.

Pressures like these are common, normal and beneficial to every man and woman, every person. In fact a life without pressure may be one of the most boring ones we could live.

A popular advertisment brings the idea of "freedom fifty five" to our minds The idea expressed and encouraged is - if you will work with them they will make sure that at 55 you will not have to worry about money again.

The question begs to be asked of this company.. "How much 'worry' will be necessary on the way to the 55 mark? How much pressure will the lucky person undergo if they sign up?"

It has been said of worry that ....

• 40% of all worries will never happen.
• 30% concern old decisions which cannot be changed,
• 12% center on criticism, mostly untrue, made by people who feel inferior,
• 10% relate to health, which worsens while you worry, and
• only 8% are legitimate which you can do something about.

Think of all that you worry about with a value and a weight. Let’s make this worry, for the average person, about 100 pounds in weight. Let’s imagine that it sits heavily on our backs – like a heavy load carried in a back pack. If the worry that we carry has a value – let say it is $1000.

In pounds.. 40 never happen, 30 are old decisions that cannot be changed, 12 are from criticism, & untrue statements made by inferior people, and 10 of the load is related to health issues that can be dealt with. That total is 92 pounds of nothing to worry about - leaving you with 8 pounds of worry that you can deal with.

In terms of the $1000 weight… $400 never happens, $300 are old Ds, $120 are Cs and lies, $100 are health issues that can be helped – leaving you $80 of the entire $1000 worth of worry that you can deal with.

We know worry is wrong and counter-productive. We know too that pressure can cause this worry.

How do we deal with it? How do we roll this worry a way? How can we deal with inordinate pressure and the worry that comes with it?

Two ways are possible..

1. By myself - On my own..
2. With God’s help..

I have chosen God as a helper. He has made some great promises and from what I have come to know about him –he has always kept his promises. Here are some of them…

Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."Deuteronomy 31:5-7 (in Context) Deuteronomy 31 (Whole Chapter)

Deuteronomy 31:8The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."Deuteronomy 31:7-9 (in Context) Deuteronomy 31 (Whole Chapter)

Joshua 1:5No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.Joshua 1:4-6 (in Context) Joshua 1 (Whole Chapter)

Hebrews 13:5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:4-6 (in Context) Hebrews 13 (Whole Chapter)

(References found at http://www.biblegateway.com/)