If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small. Proverbs 24v10 (NLT)
Too many may read this and focus primarily on the word fail. Interestingly the ESV translation uses the phrase faint.
I think that faint captures the heart of the wisdom much better. After all, as the adage goes “real failure, may be failure to try”.
Resilience is a really important trait especially in those pressure circumstances we might find ourselves in. It could be any number of situations! Resilience stops us fainting. We are able to resist it.
This proverb stood out immediately to me because I feel I am learning about calmness in the face of pressure – when the odds are stacked against me.
It is a slow journey of learning and asking God to change me. It matters most when I disagree with someone, they rub me up the wrong way or don’t do what I expected or wanted. I have spent so much time in Psalm 23 this year because it is the antidote to weak strength in the face of strong pressure. The key to strength is knowing that God is with me. His rod and his staff they comfort me etc.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23v1-6 (ESV)
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Proverbs 24v10 (ESV)
