Do you find yourself feeling stressed out? So many people live such hurried lives and are concerned about so many issues that they are living under pressure. On the news recently, I heard how some are encouraging seniors to use weed to calm their nerves, and it seems that a growing number are doing so.
Jesus was almost always facing constant pressure. He was frequently under attack from His enemies. Many people demanded His time or interfered with His agenda. Some wanted to stone Him or kill Him. The interesting thing is that, always faced with different pressures, He was always calm or peaceful. The pressures He faced were intense, but He was never in a hurry. He was always at ease. How could He handle the stressors He faced? There are several answers to that question.
1. You need to know who you are.
Jesus referred to Himself in several ways.
a. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
b. “I am the door” John 10:9
c. “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life …” John 14:6
d. “I am the Good Shepherd …” John 10:11
e. “I am God’s Son.” John 10:36
Jesus knew who He was and the role assigned to Him. In John 8:18, He said, “I know who I am. I testify for myself.”
Don’t try to be like anybody else. Be true to yourself.
So, we need to know who we are and whose we are. If you have received Christ as your Savior and Lord, you can say with absolute certainty, “I am a child of God. He has put me here for a purpose. He has accepted me, and He has a plan for my life. That means I am important to Him, and my life has value.
2. Know whom you are trying to please.
In John 5:30, Jesus said, “By myself I can do nothing. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me.” Who are you trying to please? As a child of God, our goal should always be to please our Lord and Savior and bring glory to the Father.
Jesus was constantly committed to pleasing the Father. It is no wonder that in Matthew 3:17, we have the Father saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
a. Are you preoccupied with what others think of you?
b. Perhaps you are concerned that someone else is going to get the promotion that you want.
c. Maybe you are fearful of conflict. You feel threatened when someone disagrees with you.
Each of these is a distraction from where our focus ought to be… to please God. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”
This kind of life calls for a commitment because we choose to do what pleases God.
3. What are you trying to accomplish?
Don’t try doing a dozen different things at one time. Determine what is most important and do it well. This means you must have priorities. Jesus said, “I know where I came from and where I am going.”
In Luke 9:51, we read, “When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He (Jesus) set His face to go to Jerusalem.” His disciples tried to talk Him out of going there because they said, “People are waiting there to kill you.” But he knew who He was. He knew whom He was determined to please and why He had come – to give His life as a ransom for mankind. He knew He would be put to death, but He knew that’s why He came, and it was a part of God’s plan of redemption.
4. Know what your purpose or goal is and let others help you. In Mark 3:13, we read, “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him.” After they came, He appointed twelve of them to be apostles, so they could be with Him and He could send them out to declare the Good News.
5. In Matthew 28:18-20, we read, “Jesus came and told His disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” He delegated His work or mission to them. I could never lead Jubilee all by myself. I have a great Church Board of men who know how to make good decisions and work. I have a terrific Missions Board that helps us keep our focus on local and global missions to evangelize the world. I have a devoted Deacon Board that helps me keep the spiritual life of the church at an all-time high. And, I have an amazing group of ladies, called deaconesses, who help me in so many ways by caring for hurting people, or preparing delicious luncheons for different events. We have an amazing team in the media booth that handles light and sound, and enables us to send our services out by live streaming. There is no way I could do all this by myself.
Lastly, I have a fantastic church family that has confidence in our leadership and supports us in our objectives as a church. I pray that the principles I have shared will help you lessen the stresses in your lives.
For His glory,
Pastor Leonard
