Pressure

Billy Joel warned us. Queen and Bowie were under it. Vanilla Ice sampled it. Pressure. When the difficulties of life begin swirling themselves into the perfect storm. When your landlord and your wife and your kids and your mother and the utility company all seem to have conspired against you. I think most of us can stomach the things we do to ourselves, but when the problems of others brazenly thrust themselves into our space in one relentless assault? Not so much.

But that's me. I'm there.

I got a letter today. Someone who never asked wanted something I don't have within a time limit they never set -- upon penalty of discontinuing services for which I never miss a payment. I received this letter at the end of a day of answering endless texts and emails pressuring me about something else over which I have no control. All of this in the midst of -- some of it with regard to -- a situation in which I perpetually feel inadequate and helpless. Are you with me?

James 1:3, in The Message says:

"You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors."

Ouch! "Shows its true colors?" Red. Red is the color I've been showing. Annoyed that the problems of others have somehow become mine. Angry that, despite doing what I am supposed to be doing, despite being the "responsible one," I am getting beat up. Incensed that people getting paid a lot more than I am to do a job which is supposed to serve me have twisted things up so badly, I now have to do their job as well as my own.

But what colors should I let show?

White (Peace): "Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] rule in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]." Col. 3:15 (AMP)

Green (Life): "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." John 7:38 (NIV)

Yellow (Light of Christ): "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:16 (KJV)

And the only Red others should see in me? The blood of Christ. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)

May pressure reveal in all of us the colors of life in our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ the Lord.