Under Presure
Your own wickedness will correct you, and your apostasies will reprove you…. Jeremiah 2:19 NASB. These are the words of the prophet to the children of Israel when they had abandoned their faith, and I believe that I see a principle in this statement that we can apply to our lives. Namely, that errors we allow to exist within us will further serve to correct us. The journey of a Christian is a work toward “ Christ being formed in you.” Gal. 4:19 This is a hard-won process that takes perseverance, knowledge in the word, and prayer. We can be blissfully unaware of attitudes, emotions, or ways of thinking that need changing until we find ourself in a pressure situation which brings these flaws to the surface. When you find yourself in this position and the negative attitudes, emotions, or actions surface; don’t ignore, set aside, or suppress because this is the time to deal with the issue at hand. If you try to just get through it without adequately dealing with the underlying source, you will find yourself in this situation repeatedly until you effectively confront the root cause.
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Heb. 12:12-13 NASB. These verses are still enigmatic for me, but I think the basic idea is to develop godly habits. To develop patterns of behavior, in which you are used to walking, so that when trouble arises, you are headed in the proper direction. Everyone has practiced ways of coping with stressful situations. Please take the time to examine the paths you walk down repeatedly which are not bringing you closer to a real solution. It is time to forge a new path: cut down the underbrush and remove the rocks.
I am not aware of any one-size-fits all cure, it will take work. The first step is prayer for guidance, then search scriptures for verses and passages relating to your specific needs. Find trusted brothers or sisters to confide in and who will help you pray through to the end of this particular journey. Above all, don’t give up! Once you get this up and out of your system, you will experience a greater freedom, not to mention greater self-control which is a fruit of the Spirit. Will you have this problem again? That depends on how deep it goes. You may have gotten the root or you may have taken a successful first step, but that success bodes well for future victories over negative aspects of our character.
Jean Copas