The Pressure to Perform

Growing Daily

The Pressure to Perform

Years ago, I met someone who seemed like everyone else… until I asked him what he did.  Suddenly, his demeanor shifted. 

Turned out he was a stand-up comedian, and he admitted that he didn’t want people to know. Once anyone found out, there was an expectation for him to be funny all the time.  The constant pressure to “perform” was frustrating and exhausting.

As followers of Christ, we often face a similar kind of pressure.  When people learn we’re Christians, we’re held to a higher standard.  We’re judged more critically, and there’s an unspoken demand to say or do the “right” spiritual thing at all times.

Some Christians even hide their faith to avoid this pressure, but 1 Peter 2:12 invites us to live out our faith with quiet integrity:  "Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God." 

We’ll never be perfect, but integrity and authenticity in our everyday actions will leave a lasting impression on those around us.  Even when criticized, we can still point others to God through our genuine faith.

Let God’s light shine through our imperfect but sincere lives, trusting that He’ll use our honest faith to make an impact.

- Ron Reid