“May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace.”
– Psalm 29:11 (ESV)

In the arena of sport, pressure is our constant companion. The coach’s heart pounds as he sends in the play that will decide the outcome of the game. The athlete has no place to hide as she stands in the batter’s box with the bases loaded, two outs, and her team down by a run. I have always admired coaches and athletes who seem to thrive in these situations. Typically, those who learn to produce under pressure enjoy great success and are well compensated for their skills. Have you ever wondered why some people wilt under pressure and others seem to excel? I believe one of the greatest teachers in handling pressure is experience. When the coach or athlete has been there before, often a peace takes over and the situation isn’t as overpowering. Instead of fear and panic, a quiet confidence takes over. They trust their training and face the situation head on.

Facing the pressures of daily living can be challenging as well. A serious illness, financial struggles, or a stressful work situation can put the weight of the world on our backs. I have faced each of these situations more than once in my lifetime. When I was young and immature in my faith, I didn’t always handle the storms of life well. I had no experience to draw from and usually tried to deal with the situation in my own strength. As I matured with age and grew in my faith, I learned some valuable lessons by watching others. I observed men and women face their storms with a quiet confidence, never giving in to fear or panic. I learned that the source of their peace was a relationship with Jesus Christ. The storms will still come, but we can trust God’s promises and together face them head on.

Heavenly Father, thank You for always being with me in the storms of life. Give me Your peace today as we face them together. Amen.