UNPACK This...Giving Our Best With Rest and Health Sample

Responding To The Pressure

The Masters, the world's premier golf tournament, provides intriguing stories and incredible golfers to watch each year. Yet, despite the tremendous talent of the players, pressure still permeates the atmosphere of this world-class event.

With its unique allure, there’s a heightened intensity and strong desire to win. Once stepping onto the hallowed grounds of Augusta, players become weighed down with the mental battle of not allowing the pressure to negatively affect their game.

Even though the course is challenging and the competition is fierce, those who thrive under pressure by playing free and light, and overcoming bad shots, are the ones who get in a position to win. They still have pressure, but they're not overwhelmed, distracted, or stressed out.

Most of us aren’t attempting to sink putts with the entire world watching, but every day we wake up with pressure and burdens at work, at home, and in a broken world. However, instead of being overwhelmed, distracted, and stressed out, we need to learn how to thrive under pressure and get ourselves in a position to win.

Thankfully, when Jesus died and rose again, He took the ultimate pressure off of us by dying on our behalf and taking on the burden of sin. We don’t have to feel the pressure to earn salvation based on our own merits because He offers us His free gift of grace and invites us to follow Him and be committed to His way.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Life is hard and the “course” is challenging, but the ones who rely on Jesus are the ones who win. When we’re connected to Him, He’s available to shoulder the load, carry our burdens, and bear the weight so we can live life free and light with Him each day.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know life is hard, but help me stop living in my own strength and take Jesus up on His invitation to live life His way…with rest for my soul and Him carrying my load. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.