The young pastor walked into the senior pastor’s office in desperation: “Sir, help us pay rent. We are under pressure.” The older pastor listened, then opened up about the weight he carried too. The young pastor left, saying, “Sir, forget us. I didn’t know your load was this heavy.” The young man learned how to manage his own pressure.
Friend, pressure is not a sign that you are failing. It’s often proof that you’re moving (Luke 5:1). As you grow, pressure grows with you. Singles feel the pressure to settle down. Married couples feel the pressure to keep a home. Employees complain about work, while CEOs carry the weight of the entire company.
We sometimes think pastors don’t struggle, or leaders don’t have stuff they deal with. That’s not true (1 Thessalonians 5:25, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2). A local government chairman has pressure. The president has even more. The bigger the head, the bigger the headache.
Every new level comes with new pressure (Acts 6:1-4). There’s pressure from lack and pressure from abundance. Pressure from having no job and pressure from having too much work. Pressure from stagnation and pressure from growth and success (Luke 5:4-7).
So, how do we manage pressure? Normalize it. Pressure is common to all men — rich or poor, small or great, spiritual or not. Don’t be shocked by it. Reframe it. Pressure is proof of productivity. Don’t complain under it. Ask God for grace to rise above it (Psalm 61:2).
Grow beyond your pressure (Genesis 27:40). Mountains don’t grow, but you can grow. Grow spiritually and emotionally. Grow in capacity. Grow in how you handle people and tasks. Sometimes, your financial pressure is actually calling you to grow in financial wisdom (Ecclesiastes 10:10, 15). Don’t let pressure crush you. Let it grow you.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria