Monday Morning Manna: Pressure or Privilege?

I have heard several athletes use an interesting phrase lately – “Pressure is a privilege.” The phrase may have originated from a book title by Tennis great, Billie Jean King. Perhaps the idea was birthed from James 1:12 – “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.” We are indeed “blessed” and “privileged” when we endure the various “pressures” of life. In fact, there is no way to live in the midst of real life without being exposed to various pressures. President Teddy Roosevelt said, “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena . . . who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” It all depends on how you look at circumstances. Dr. Adam Greenway, President of Southwestern Baptist Seminary (and one of my former students) described his situation as, “An institution filled with opportunities cleverly disguised as problems.” Under the pressure of problems today? Consider it a privilege. Cease the opportunity.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.