If You Fail Under Pressure…

Proverbs 24:10 NLT
If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.

Failing under pressure can uncover weaknesses and reveal that more work must be done in those areas. When I first viewed this verse, I thought, every time I fail, I’m weak and must strive to do better! Though that may be true in some instances, I realized that’s not the true heart of the Father. The Lord is merciful, and he is kind. So, I now believe that failing can sometimes be a gift that reveals areas in our lives that must be improved. I would never know how easily I am tempted, lazy, weak, fearful, or not performing to my potential until I fail under pressure. Conversely, it proves my strength when I can meet the mark successfully. Things and situations that would once make me fall, stumble, or bring fear have now been conquered. What a glorious day of victory!

The King James Version says, “If you faint in the day of adversity,” and the New Living Translation says, “If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.” They both reveal that I must be able to face hard things and not fold. I must be able to withstand pressure and not lose my integrity or my values; that trials and tribulations are inevitable, and I must garner the skills needed to succeed in each pressure presented. No one wants to be seen as weak, but Jesus says, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Maybe failing or trying to prevent failure is to enhance my awareness that I need the Lord more than ever. That apart from him, I am weak, so it is essential to understand that my dependency on him shows true strength. When I don’t fail, it is because I leaned on the Lord; I built up my confidence in him, not myself. I’ve stored his words in my heart and put them to practice in my daily life; so when the pressure or adversity comes, I have all the tools needed to overcome. 

Prayer
 
My prayer then becomes Father, show me how to successfully navigate adversity and pressure so that I don’t fail when it is presented. Please help me build strength in areas where I am weak so I can be an example of how to win gracefully in a season of storms. Lord, reveal the areas I need to work on so I can take them head-on and be prepared when the inevitable happens. Father, guide me down the path that allows me to stretch these muscles while hidden so that I can show the fruit of these victories in the open. Father God, I understand that I need moments in the field like David to be faced with the lion and bear, let the fight I need to win rise up in me so that I don’t allow the fear of their appearance and strength to make me shrink and cower. I’ve made up my mind that I refuse to fail under pressure, I refuse to faint in the day of adversity. Continue to train my hands to war so that when I am faced with Goliath situations, I will remember the lion and bear that faced their defeat when they challenged me and draw on that strength. I am awakened to the awareness of my faults so that when I am close to failing, I can lean on you more to avoid defeat. Lord, even in the simplicity of your word, the meanings are so complex. Please don’t allow me to miss the point. I refuse to be simple and one-dimensional and will continue to go deep. Allow me always to see your heart. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

My Encouragement to you
 
Don’t surrender to your weaknesses or allow your temptations to keep you bound. Lean on the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you to freedom. Read the word to build your strength, so whatever pressure or adversity presents itself, you will have the fortitude to conquer it!

CBLH