Monday 21 February 2011

Under pressure

There's nothing quite like the feeling of sweet relief from sustained pressure.

Whether it's hearing the final whistle after your team has held on to a 1-0 lead with only ten men for half the game, or that moment when you realise that you are not going to be late for that job interview after-all, or getting the electricity bill and knowing it is just low enough to be able to pay it this month, or finally reaching the toilet after a three hour car journey over potholed roads; no matter what the situation, when relief comes it is very very sweet.

'sore thumb' - Geddit?
The Sage-on-the-Hill was acting in a most unsage-like manner at the weekend when he accidentally closed the car door on his thumb, ouch.  After some time he realised that it was probably going to need hospital attention.  The throbbing had become unbearable, the pressure was building inside the damaged digit.

There was only one thing that could be done, the offending appendage had to be punctured, the pressure had to be relieved - instantly the pain subsided, sweet relief.

At Rathcoole Presbyterian Church the Rev also had pressure on his mind.  He was talking about the pressure that Jesus was under from all sides.  The Pharisees out to trap him, the hordes wanting healed, the need to teach, the constant demand for miracles, demons screaming His name at Him (Mark 3); all these things brought tremendous pressure on the Saviour.  So how did he overcome them?  He got alone with God, He got quiet with God and he got close to God.

When we feel so put upon that we could explode it is often because we feel that things are out of control.  The reality is that everything is out of our control, but it is not out of God's control.  We need to release the pressure to God, move it from our shoulders to His.  Talk to Him in the quiet places and let Him reassure us of His control in all situations.

Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Luke 6:12


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Queen - Under Pressure

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