“You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.” — John 7:8 - 10 NIV
Pressure mounts up when a person is given more tasks to accomplish in a short time interval or when so many people speak toward one person with the aim of convincing him to do something. Both of these are inevitable in life, yet they are manageable.
For the compression of too much work within a short time frame, it can be solved by planning and working for days ahead. But for many people to convince one person to do something at the same time, the best solution to it is patience, coupled with giving wise answers. Jesus knew this.
When his brothers told Him to go publicly to attend the Festival of Tabernacles in Judea, He gave them some strange answers. He said,
…My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.
John 7:6 – 7 NIV
Jesus knew that His brothers didn’t believe in Him, including John. So to make Him go publicly to the festival, they dared Him to do something to prove a point to others. But Jesus was a wise man. After silencing them with unusual answers, they left Him alone.
Later, Jesus went to the festival privately after telling them that He’ll not go (John 7:8). Did Jesus lie? No! Because He was sinless (1 Corinthians 5:21). He did what was right but in an unusual way. To me, I think He talked to the Father before deciding to go. But what can we learn here?
You have to master how to be patient to ease off your pressure. An adage says, “More haste, less speed.” Although it’s not Biblical, I’ve seen it work several times in many lives.
God doesn’t do things just because we prayed about them. No. He checks our hearts. Some people will pretend to like you and give you all the remarkable ideas you can think of, especially as a leader. But you’ve got to be discerning. Follow God’s path, and don’t allow anyone’s pressure to take you off course.
You’re a blessing.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that You’ll guide me when I’m in a dilemma. Help me to be patient when pressured; so that I’ll be able to do what’s entrusted to me well and not just fast. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Devotional Code: KGD // 2022 – 343
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