How to Stay Strong Under Pressure (When Life Feels Heavy) | April Osteen Simons

Pressure has a way of making you question everything. Your confidence, your calling, and even your worth. But that's not the time to shrink back. It's the time to remember who you are. And maybe you've felt it lately, the pressure. The pressure to hold it all together, or to make the right decision, or to keep showing up even when you're tired. That kind of weight can wear you down. But today, as we wrap up this Better Than Ever series, I want to remind you of something simple and powerful. You are not here by accident. You are stronger than you feel. And what God has placed on the inside of you still stands, even though pressure tries to shake it out of you. So today, I'm going to help you remember who you are and stand in it with confidence. You know, pressure doesn't always break you. Sometimes it just makes you forget some things. You forget how strong you are. You forget how far you've come. You forget what already is on the inside of you. You know, when I was younger and I was a pitcher for fast pitch softball, I had a moment just like that. I was pitching in a game, something I'd done a hundred times. But this particular game, I felt the pressure and it got to me. I mean, I began to doubt what I could do. I froze in the middle of the game. I began to question what I was doing. And right in the middle of the game, when everyone was waiting for me to pitch and it was very quiet in the crowd, I heard a voice and it was my dad's voice. And he rose up in those stands and he shouted out so loudly, come on, April, you've got this. This is the winning strike. When he said that, something in me shifted. It wasn't a pep talk. It was just simply reminding me of who I was. And when I heard that, I literally stood up straighter. My shoulders went back and I breathed a little deeper. I didn't feel less pressure, but I remembered I can handle this. See, that's what pressure tries to do. It tries to make you shrink back. It tries to make you think that you're not capable of accomplishing something hard. But when you remember who you are, you don't have to fall into what the pressure's trying to make you fall into. See, that moment with my dad out there with me pitching, it taught me something that I've never forgotten. The voice you listen to matters. Oh, it matters so much. See, my dad didn't give me a strategy or try to fix it. He just simply reminded me of what was already true and his words spoken brought it back to life. See, that's what your heavenly father does too. He doesn't yell. He's not up in heaven shaming you. No, he's reminding you, hey, you're mine. I called you to this. You are not alone. See, when you listen to that, pressure doesn't stand a chance. Now, let me make it practical. I want to give you four ways to stay grounded when pressure tries to shake you. Number one, speak identity, not insecurity. Listen, when stress hits, it's easy to talk about all the stress, but now I want you to reframe that. When stress hits, say what God says about you. Say it out loud, right in the middle of the pressure moment. Start saying, I am chosen. I am equipped. I am strong. I will make it through this. Number two, stand tall, even when you feel small. See, pressure makes you want to shrink back. So do just the opposite. Straighten your shoulders, lift your head and walk like someone who knows their father sent them. You don't have to fake confidence. Just stand in truth. Number three, picture your heavenly father speaking over you. Listen, just like my dad shouted from the stands, you've got this. Your heavenly father is doing the same. He's not silent. He's not distant. He's present. He's so proud and he's steady. Number four, don't forget what's already in you. Pressure doesn't change your identity. It reveals it. Listen, you've already been prepared. You've already been called. You're not trying to become something. You're walking in what God already put inside you. Now, let's back it with God's word. Here are five scriptures to speak when pressure shows up in your life. Number one, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Number two, I am strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Number three, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me. Number four, I have the mind of Christ. Number five, the spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in me. Now, give me those scriptures and I'm going to give you more at the end so you can get the word of God in your heart. And I want you the next time pressure hits you hard to pick one of these scriptures or speak all of these scriptures over your life. And don't just speak it on the inside. Speak it out loud. Put it on your phone. Put it on your bathroom mirror. Let the word of God be your anchor. Now, know this. If pressure is pressing in on you right now, don't assume something's wrong with you. This might not be the moment to push harder. It might be the moment to anchor deeper, deeper in God's word. Remember, you're not disqualified by your fear. You're not defined by the pressure or what feels hard. You're steady because God is steady. And he never, ever, ever changes his mind about you. He believes in you. And the strength that you need is already in you. You don't have to chase it. Just remember who you are and whose you are. Let me pray over you. God, I thank you for every person watching who feels like the pressure is closing in on their life right now. Breathe confidence back into their spirit. Remind them of who they are. Remind them of what you've put on the inside of them. Speak louder than the noise around them and let your voice be the one that they hear. Let them stay steady. Let them stay clear and filled with peace and power. Help them walk strong, stand tall, and keep showing up, not in their own strength, but in yours. In Jesus' name, amen. Hey, thanks for being a part of this Better Than Ever series. It's been such an honor to walk these past few weeks going through the book. And if you don't have a copy of my book, this is the last week. My book is half off. You can find details below. And if you are subscribed to my email, I put together a full list of 20 scriptures to speak when you're under pressure. You'll be getting that this week. I always like to send something out that will bring hope, life, and encouragement. And make sure you subscribe to this YouTube channel. Share this episode with someone that might need it. And even though this series is wrapping up, there's more coming next week. So until next time, keep standing tall and have an amazing day.