Did you know that you're under an immense amount of pressure right at this very moment? I don't mean figuratively, I mean literally—a ton of pressure. The atmosphere is pushing down at 14.7 pounds per square inch of pressure. That means that every square foot is under approximately 2,117 pounds of atmospheric pressure. So, yes, you are literally under a ton of pressure right now.
That's a lot of pressure! But not nearly as much pressure as if you go deep under the ocean where the pressure can become so great that a submarine needs to have several inches of steel to prevent being crushed. Yet, if you were able to go down in one of those submarines you could look out and find delicate sea creatures with feathery bodies swimming effortlessly under these intense amounts of pressure.
With the power of the Holy Spirit we don't need to be crushed by the pressures that we are experiencing all-around.
Sometimes we feel like our lives are being buried under intense amounts of pressure. As a tech director, you probably experience more pressure than the average person. We experience pressure because everything depends on us. When we make mistakes it becomes glaringly obvious to everyone in the church. You might hit every sound cue correct for the past 10 months and every lighting cue for the past three years, but if you miss one this weekend everyone immediately points the finger to you. That's a lot of pressure to live under.
"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair." - 2 Corinthians 4:8
With the power of the Holy Spirit we don't need to be crushed by the pressures that we are experiencing all-around. Just as the sea creatures aren't crushed by the weight of the ocean or your body is not crush by the weight of the atmosphere, we don't need to be crushed by the pressures of life.
How can we make sure that we are coping with the pressure around us?
Believe
It's time to believe what Scripture says when it says “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.” There's no pressure on earth that can crush you when you have the Holy Spirit living on the inside. Instead of leaning on our own abilities to cope with pressure, we need to start to rely on Him. We need to let Him take control of our lives.
Regardless of the pressures that you face in your life, you must realize that we serve a powerful God that has not lost control.
Stop worrying
Do you continually find yourself worrying? What good does it do? Worrying actually makes that pressure far worse. Just let go of the worry and doubt. Let go of those voices saying that you aren't good enough and that you will never overcome.
Climb higher
As you climb a mountain, the atmospheric pressure decreases. The higher you go in your walk with Christ, the less pressure you will begin to feel. When you feel the weight of the world bearing down on you, let it be a motivation to look for higher ground. Move higher. Move closer to God.
Don't stay where you are.
Regardless of the pressures that you face in your life, you must realize that we serve a powerful God that has not lost control. He is still on the throne. He says that He will never leave you and He will never forsake you. He has not abandoned you and He is faithful to get you through the pressures that you face.
The psalmist teaches us that our God is a God that will take the journey with us. Even when we walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, He is right there. Rely on God's Word that even though you may feel pressure on every side, you will not be crushed.
