As a believer, there is no place in the Bible that exempts you from experiencing pressure. I know some people don’t like to hear that, but it is simply the truth. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that we have an adversary in Satan. John 10:10 tells us that Satan is the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. 1 Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” When we are experiencing pressure we should not be surprised by it. It is not an unheard of occurrence for a believer to experience pressure. I think some people get the idea that if they are saved and living by faith and walking in God’s Word that they should never encounter a pressured situation. Psalm 34:19 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver them out of them all.” The righteous will experience affliction, persecution, and pressure, but if they will live by faith and obey God they can overcome no matter what they might be facing. In John 16:33Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.” Jesus is saying you will face challenges and experience pressure, but in the midst of it all to be of good cheer because you can have victory over it. Even though there is no verse that exempts you from pressure, there are many verses that exempt you from being defeated in the pressured situation. You may be experiencing pressure today, but you do not have to be defeated by it. You can have victory in the middle of that pressured situation. There are times when believers find themselves in a pressured place, a dark place, but God will deliver them. In Psalm 40, David is in one of those dark places. He writes, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. David was in a pit, but God delivered him. David was on sinking ground, but God put his feet on a rock and a new song in his mouth. I believe God is ready to do those things in your life. I believe there are some things He wants to deliver you from, some pit He wants you out of, and some victory He wants you to have! What’s your responsibility? In the midst of that pressure it is your responsibility to resist the enemy steadfast in faith (1 Peter 5:9, James 4:7). It is your responsibility to stand on God’s Word and not give up or give in to the enemy. If you will do that you will triumph over Satan’s attack! In part two of this teaching we will begin looking at 5 keys to obtaining victory in troubled times!
