Pressure…

Pressure, whether real or imagined is a horrible feeling. And the same feeling I would think, wherever it comes from, and who is to say what is real and what is imagined in this realm of feelings…who, apart from God really I think…

I find there are so many pressures in this world that make me feel uptight and get a ball of squirmy horribleness in the pit of my stomach. (and don’t tell me I’m the only one, because I know I’m not.) I was about to write that there are real and valid pressures such as child rearing and general responsibilities, but I thought again and thought, no! they aren’t actually meant to be pressures, but actually joys. Maybe it’s the perspective that is so often off.

My own pressures that are definitely not of God are (as far as I’m aware, I’m sure there’s more): the pressure of what people think, living up to what I ‘think’ they expect of me, the feeling that I definitely fail on everything all the time (especially parenting) and fitting everything in, whatever ‘everything’ is. I even find in Christianity (and secular) circles that scrolling through say Facebook or Twitter, you get bombarded by what is expected from you and thousands of ‘opinions’. I’ll be honest, I find it very stressful.

The simple fact is, I actually don’t have to get stressed or worried….God’s word (the bible) is explicit in this, but people (including me) so often simply do not help in these matters. We either validate and say ‘oh I know isn’t it dreadful’, or we criticise, especially in the realm of parenting…(in the realm of anything really) and mainly just to make ourselves feel better…or we ignore any feelings instead of acknowledging them and bringing the person or ourselves back into God’s word and will. Please stop. We are not here to criticise and put down, we are here to help. To submit to Christ..

I need to get back into God’s word…who is with me?

This is psalm 119 verse 105. It’s a long and beautiful psalm. I love how honest the psalms are.

See you soon, or at least write soon.

Cathy