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Peace even when you’re under pressure: Do you think that’s possible? One thing we all deal with is pressure and stress. While it’s true that too much pressure is harmful, it’s also true that you cannot escape some pressure if you’re involved in anything at all. So, we need to know how to be peaceful even though we have stress and pressure in our daily routine.
Peter tells us in 1 Peter the third chapter that the person who intends to love life and see good days must seek peace and pursue it. You have to go for it. It doesn’t just happen. It comes when you pursue it.
One thing I recommend is to take peace breaks. When you feel the pressure and panic start to crowd in around you, find some way to take a short break where you can pray for a few minutes. Get your mind refocused on Jesus. Then go back to face your situation, and you’ll discover that unreasonable peace—that peace that passes understanding—flowing through you, even though the pressure is still there.
Write Scripture verses on cards that help you to be peaceful. Such as Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Put that card in front of you, on your screen saver or smart phone, and read it and re-read it several times during the day. That will help keep your thoughts where they should be; bringing every thought into captivity so that they obey Christ.
You could hum a good Christian song to yourself to get your mind refocused on the person who is our peace, Jesus Christ. You can do that while you’re talking to people, busily working on something, rushing on the job, darting somewhere in your car. Right in the midst of all that pressure, you can still know God’s incredible peace.
Do you spend any time with God early in your day, so that you begin your day in a peaceful manner? Or do you begin most of your days in a hectic rush, getting up late, rushing yourself and your family? Remember this: Your day is won or lost in the morning hours. Take time early in your day to put on peace, and your peace is a person, right? Put on Jesus and his shoes of peace. Don’t leave home without doing that. And take some peace breaks during your hectic day. Those are good suggestions for staying peaceful in the midst of pressure.