HOW TO STAY FAITHFUL UNDER

HOW TO STAY FAITHFUL UNDER PRESSURE

“But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” - Hebrews 10:39

In the book of Hebrews, the writer is speaking to Jewish Christians who, at this time, were enduring an intense amount of pressure and persecution because of their faith. The persecution was so intense that they wanted to abandon their Christian faith altogether.  

We might be able to relate to these believers because life has a way of taking us on a detour.  Dr. Tony Evans describes a detour as “an unexplained, often shift, in our route to get to where we're going.” In other words, a detour is when we have believed the Word of God and the promises of God, even when our lives don’t reflect what the promises look like.

When life has us on a detour, it can often feel like we are in the “if it's not one thing, it's another” cycle. We find ourselves fighting the same demons year after year.  It’s not a shame to admit that even though we love God and our hope is in God, sometimes the pressures of life can shake our confidence. Sometimes we question God, especially when we’ve been in the storm too long.

If anyone is feeling tired and under pressure, there is encouragement found in God’s Word. Hold on to your faith. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” - Hebrews  10:23. Simply put. Don't give up, and don't throw in the towel. God is in control.

BE FAITHFUL TO THE PROMISES OF GOD

If we're going to stay faithful under pressure, we need to be faithful to the promises of God.“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.” - Hebrews 10:35

God has always given us a word at the right time, at the right season, to give or instill confidence in us and assist us in overcoming the tests and trials of life. As a matter of fact, before we even knew how to go to a therapist and take care of our mental health, there was already a word from God. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” - Philippians 4:6

Even when we felt helpless and hopeless, there was a word for God's church telling us to look to the hills for help, knowing that all of our help comes from the Lord. We may have been in some hostile situations where people have tried to plan and plot our demise, but there was a word from God that says, “Stand firm, church, because no weapon formed against you shall prosper.”

When we’re trying to boost our confidence and put our life back together because we got a little wayward, or maybe we have been battling between the flesh and the spirit. It could be that we’re dealing with the guilt and the shame of our past. There's a word from God that says,  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9 

So, don't throw away your comfort. God has a word to help us come through every temptation, every test, and every trial.

BE OBEDIENT TO THE PROMISES OF GOD

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised.” - Hebrews 10:36

Obedience will bring blessings and favor from God into our lives. The writer of Hebrews encourages us not to abandon our faith because he doesn’t want us to miss out on the future blessings that God has in store for us.  

In the Bible, we see how Jesus handled the pressure. 1 Peter 2: 23 says, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” 

Here's what Jesus did. When they hurled insults at Him,  He did not retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He trusted Himself to the one who judges righteously.  So you may be asking: “What was the outcome of His not retaliating?"  

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” - Philippians 2:8. As Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross, God highly exalted Him and bestowed upon Him a name that is above every name. Likewise, if we humble ourselves in the face of adversity, in the face of pressure, and in the face of adversity, God will lift us up in His perfect and glorious time.

BE IN EXPECTATION OF THE PROMISE OF GOD

If we are to stay faithful under pressure and be ready to receive the blessings that God has in store for us, we need to be in expectation of the blessings of God. 

“Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;” - Hebrews 10:37

It is easy to get attached to this world, but Jesus is coming back for a church without blemish. This world is not our home. Not only is Jesus returning for a spotless church. And while none of us knows when the Lord will require our souls, we know that everyone must stand before God; we must account for what we did in this life, both good and bad.

Some of us may be on the verge of giving up. Maybe it’s because of the ministry and the weight of the call. But I want to speak to us right now. We must not allow the pressure to get to us. Instead, we need to keep on studying the Word of God, keep on praying, keep on trusting, and keep on proving ourselves as approved workmen under God; who are not ashamed to rightly divide the Word of Truth.  

Let’s make it our declaration to live for God’s glory, despite the pressures. Allow God to take control as we humbly submit our hearts to Him. When we do things for the glory of God, even though we are under pressure, we should live in expectation of receiving our reward. There has to be an expectation of the fulfillment of God’s promises, and the only thing that we should want to hear Jesus say is, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord."