Finding closeness to Jesus through life's pressures
When Pressure Pushes You Closer to Jesus
Sometimes the very thing we’re asking God to remove is the thing drawing us closer to Him.
Scripture: “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” — James 4:8 (NLT)
I've been thinking a lot lately about pressure. Not the kind that comes from having a busy schedule or too many things on your to-do list. I'm talking about the kind of pressure that weighs on your heart. The kind that keeps you up at night, leaves you exhausted, and makes you wonder how much more you can carry. I know what that feels like. There have been seasons in my life when it seemed like the pressure was coming from every direction. Just when I thought I could catch my breath, something else would happen. Another problem to solve. Another disappointment to process. Another situation completely outside of my control. And if I'm being honest, there have been moments when I've asked God, "Lord, when is this going to let up?"
But something I've noticed through these difficult seasons is that pressure has a way of revealing where we turn when life gets hard. Sometimes we turn to distractions. Sometimes we try to fix everything ourselves. Sometimes we withdraw from the people around us because we simply don't have the energy to explain what we're going through. But I've also discovered that some of my closest moments with Jesus have come during the seasons when I felt the most overwhelmed. Not because I suddenly became stronger or more spiritual, but because I reached the end of what I could handle on my own. My prayers became less polished and more honest. Instead of coming to God with all the right words, I came with tears, questions, and sometimes nothing more than, "Lord, I need You."
And I've learned that those prayers matter just as much. The Apostle Paul understood what it meant to live under pressure. In 2 Corinthians 12, he pleaded with the Lord to remove something that was causing him great difficulty. But instead of removing it, Jesus reminded Paul that His grace was sufficient and His power was made perfect in weakness. I think about that often. Because if I had my way, I'd probably choose a life with less pressure, fewer problems, and a whole lot more certainty. But looking back, I can see how some of the very things I wanted God to take away became opportunities for me to know Him more deeply.
Pressure didn't automatically make my faith stronger. But it made me realize how desperately I needed Jesus. And there's a difference.We sometimes assume that growing closer to God means our circumstances will improve. That if we pray enough, trust enough, or have enough faith, the pressure will eventually disappear. But that's not always how it works. Sometimes the circumstances remain difficult, the answers take longer than expected, and the weight doesn't immediately lift. Yet something begins to change within us. We learn to pray before we panic. We learn to depend on God's strength instead of our own. We begin to recognize His presence in places where we once only noticed our problems. And little by little, our relationship with Jesus becomes less about what we want Him to do for us and more about simply wanting to be near Him.
I don't believe God wastes our pain. And I don't believe every difficult thing we experience is something He intentionally placed in our lives. But I do believe He can meet us in the middle of it and use even the hardest seasons to deepen our relationship with Him. Maybe you're under pressure right now. Maybe you've been praying for relief, but nothing seems to be changing. Can I encourage you with something? Don't let the pressure push you away from the One who can sustain you through it. Let it push you closer to Him.
You don't have to pretend you're doing fine. You don't have to have everything figured out. And you certainly don't have to wait until life settles down before you draw near to Jesus. Come to Him tired. Come to Him overwhelmed. Come to Him with your unanswered questions. Because sometimes the greatest thing God does in a difficult season isn't changing what's happening around us. It's drawing us closer to Himself. And while I would never choose some of the things I've walked through, I wouldn't trade the closeness I've experienced with Jesus because of them.
The pressure may not be what you wanted, but don't miss the opportunity to draw closer to the One you need most.
Prayer: Lord, You know the pressures I'm carrying and the things weighing heavily on my heart. Help me not to allow these difficulties to pull me away from You. Teach me to seek You first, depend on Your strength, and recognize Your presence even when my circumstances don't change. Use this season to deepen my relationship with You. In Jesus' name, Amen.