Hello Golden Dreamers,
Back at you with another Moments of Transparency post. I want to share this experience that I had with you, Are you ready?
So several months ago, I needed some dental work done. I had 3 wisdom teeth that needed to be extracted. One upper tooth and two lower bottom teeth. So the day of the extraction of my 3 wisdom teeth, I was completely nervous. They numbed my gums and told me to relax the best way I knew how to. My dentist told me if I felt any discomfort to raise my hand and they would stop. I said, “Bet!”
Can I just add that I hate the sound of the drills and the idea of someone poking and prying near my face! So they began, and moments into the extraction, I raised my hand, and they did indeed stopped. The dentist asked me, “Hey sherronda, what’s wrong, are you okay?” I replied to him saying, “I’m feeling discomfort and some pain!”. He stopped and reached over and grabbed a needle and gave me a few more numbing shots in my gums; then began again.
After several minutes of yanking and pulling, I raised my hand again. My dentist stopped once more and asked me the same question, “Sherronda is everything okay”. I told him, “I still feel pain.” He immediately looked at the other doctor and looked back at me. (so sorry to this man, because I knew I was getting on his nerves. lol) He sits me up and says ever so gently and calmly. “Sherronda, I’m not saying that I don’t believe you, but at this point, you shouldn’t be feeling anything. Your whole mouth is numb, but I want you to feel comfortable.” He continues by saying, “Sherronda do you know the difference between pressure and pain. You should be feeling alot of pressure because I am working on your upper back and lower wisdom teeth, but you shouldn’t be feeling any pain though”. At that moment I told myself, okay sherronda let this man do his job. You are completely tripping. I nodded my head and told him to continue extracting the two bottom teeth.
I believe the holy spirit began talking to me because I was in complete deep thought over what he said. I wasn’t even focused on what the doctors were doing at that moment. Let me repeat what he said to me (for the people in the back who didn’t hear him), He said, “Do you know the difference between pressure and pain? You should be feeling alot of pressure but you shouldn’t be feeling any pain though.”
Pause Storytime:
How many times have we been in a season or trial where we are under attack and we feel that there’s alot of pain circulating in our life, but in reality, it’s only pressure? How many times has God said, "Oh there will be pressure but I assure you there will not be any pain" but we still believed we were in complete pain? Now, I'm not saying that it’s always going to be pressure and no pain, because sometimes the things we deal with can be painful. Pressure can oftentimes feel like pain, especially if it’s too much pressure all at once but for the most part; pressure is just pressure.
Think of it this way, when you go to your medical provider and you’re getting your vitals checked. Most of the time, they check your blood pressure by putting that compression band around your arm. It squeezes your arm very tightly, it's not painful but because of the pressure, it makes you feel uncomfortable for just a few minutes. At that moment you are only experiencing pressure, not necessarily pain, right?
I know we are talking about teeth here but look at this spiritually! Pressure is defined as continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contract with it. We have to remember that the bible tells us that we indeed will have moments of pressure and pain through trials and tribulations in our lives. It would be wise to know the difference to ensure that you can, one, respond to it in such a way, and two, know how to recover after an attack(s).
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Countless scriptures inform us that we will endure hardships, but just as the bible gives us warning, it also encourages us all in the same breath. These three scriptures above do just that. They warn us but also strengthens our hope and faith in the Lord God.
Philippians 4:6-7: There will be times when we will feel anxious, tired, worried, stressed, discomfort, pain, and pressure. We are human! We all have emotions! This is nothing new to the Lord! we will get weary, but this verse encourages us when we are under pressure to STILL continue to pray and ask God for help. You can not handle the trials of life by yourself, effectively. Notice the word “effectively”. We may think we can “handle” our lives, but not effectively without God. Half the time when we feel pressure it’s due to us not praying like we should. No judgment at all, this is coming from experience. Did you read my previous post, An Inside Job: Moments of Transparency, I lay it all out for you, exposing my flaws and all. Not having a prayer life is like running a race-blind at full speed. You’re thinking that you’re winning but in reality, you’re running in a circle with yourself, and are not aware of it. Prayer is not optional, it’s mandatory! Prayer is your direct lifeline to the Father, to your creator, to your Abba! Build up your prayer muscle so that in every situation, good or bad, you can pray your way through it!
James 1:2-4: I love this scripture so much. Count it all joy is my go-to saying. No matter what happens, no matter what people say or do, count it all joy. When you abide in Jesus, He will abide in you and you will lack nothing. When pressure comes, when pain comes, when disappointment comes in like a flood, remember James 1:2-4. These things help build your faith. Trials are the building blocks of faith, of resilience, of joy, of peace. Trials come to build us up. This will not be easy, discipline is never easy! You got this, count it all joy, my Golden Dreamers!
Finding peace in the midst of chaos is a very complex way of thinking, especially when you are hurting or not feeling your best. We have all been hard-wired to freak out when things go wrong; just look at the COVID-19 pandemic, people lost their minds instead of relying on God! We have to learn to recognize that God is still good despite the loss, despite what you see! Honestly, it is then and only then, that you will gain peace in the midst of the storm. When all hell is breaking loose, I still have joy because OUR God is STILL good! Despite what it looks like, our God is still on the throne, working it out! What I loss is nothing compared to what I will gain in heaven. That is how you have peace under pressure! Trust God! Believe that! Receive that!
1 Corinthians 10:13: We can overcome any temptation we have with the strength found in God. Our own strength in temptation will not be enough. We need the help of the Lord to not only resist the urges of temptation but also to help us not continuously indulge in it, altogether. So this verse starts as a warning, (like I mentioned before) but look what's next, hope. Our God promises to supervise all temptations based on what we are capable of handling. That’s a promise that the Lord freely gives us. Satan would have destroyed us a long time ago, I'm sure of it, however, because God is so solid on His promises, Satan has no fighting chance against them. The Lord’s Word is His Bond. The Word will never fail. Satan can only get so far with his attacks and schemes. (Read the story of Job.) In this scripture we have two amazing promises that God gives, one, as we mentioned before, God supervises temptations, two, the promise God gives us is that he will give us a way of escape. We are not to just merely sit in our mess and do nothing. God always gives us resources to come out of something we are in it too long. There is always a way of escape. Granted, sometimes God will get you out of something right then and there. It’s a quick escape, a quick rescue; But on the other hand, God sometimes will leave you under pressure but will give you the tools to endure it while you’re in it. There’s purpose in the pain. The best way to learn hard things is through the fire of pressure and pain; and even if that’s your reality right now, God has given us the divine tools to press forward. Take up your Armor Soldier, You are Dressed To Kill! It’s a choice to stay broken but it’s also a choice to find peace in every situation. How will you respond?
Play StoryTime: So back to me sitting in the dentist chair, The dentist interrupts my line of thinking by saying, “Good Job Sherronda, your response on this tooth was better than the last. We are about to start on the last extraction now. Are you okay to continue?” I nodded yes, and they began again. This time I barely moved, my anxiety lessened and I was very much comfortable throughout the rest of the appointment.
Shifting from Fear to Faith in a matter of minutes makes all the difference.
Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Psalm 118:5-6
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:29
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27
By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Luke 21:19
Golden Nuggets: Things to think about!
As followers of Christ, we will continuously experience force on us. Whether it be from the world or in the spirit realm. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [Ephesians 6:12]. This means we fight attacks that we cannot see. This battle is spiritual and not of the flesh. The things that the Lord has us to do like growing our faith, praying, developing hope in all things, interceding on the behalf of others, and trusting God; all of which, rely on things you cannot see. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen [Hebrews 11:1]. You can’t measure your faith or scale your trust in God. We do all things in the spirit by the spirit.
Fight your pressure with Faith
Fight your pain with Faith
Use your faith as your weapon!
What type of season am I in?
What is God telling me to do?
How is my Faith in God? Do I trust Him and His promises?
Have I mixed up the difference between pressure and pain?