How can a person remain calm even when he or she is under pressure, sometimes immense pressure?  Perhaps we should ask if it's even possible to remain calm in this pressure-cooker world we live in?  When we view this from the spiritual perspective we can say that it not only is possible, we can even find wonderful examples of it occurring in God's word.  For instance, think about the situation Joseph faced.  This young man was deserted by his brothers, considered dead by his father, was removed to a foreign land, and then thrown in prison for a crime he didn't commit.  But through it all, we see a young man who handled the circumstances in a calm, even-tempered manner.  How could he do this?  A key is found in Genesis 39:21 where we read: "But the Lord was with Joseph…"  This is a phrase repeated throughout the account detailing Joseph's life.  This man put his full and complete trust in God, regardless of the situation.

How many of us have faced a man in battle who stood over nine feet tall, an individual who was a seasoned warrior, one who could likely crush our skull with a single blow from his fist?  David went up against Goliath, a man who fit that description.  Certainly, David's physical strength was no match for Goliath.  How did he display such a calm fearlessness in that situation?  The answer is found in I Samuel 17:45-46: "Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.  This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you.'"  David realized that his strength was not enough, but the strength and power of God were more than enough.

The apostle Paul was a prisoner on a ship bound for Rome.  A storm overtook the vessel for many days so the people on board had given up all hope of being saved.  When everyone had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up, in what appeared to be a perfect state of calmness, and offered some words of encouragement.  Notice what he said in Acts 27:22-25: "Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.  For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.'  Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told."  Trust and confidence in God provide calmness even in the face of a life-threatening storm.

Before concluding, we should also touch on the necessity of prayer.  We read in Philippians 4:6-7: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Anxiety can be replaced with a calm peacefulness when we trust God, when we commune with Him in prayer on a regular basis.  That undeniably produces a calmness under pressure that we all desire to possess.

One of the great things about Christianity—and there are many—is that life comes with an instruction manual, a kind of survival kit, if you will. If you've lived long enough to take your first steps (and if you're reading this, there's a good chance you have), you know that life throws a steady succession of twists and turns at you.

It may be a rocky personal relationship that's aching your heart,

a financial crisis that's got you preoccupied and anxious,

sickness that's got you worried,

the loss of a loved one that's left you in a deep, dark cloud,

political turmoil that's got you uncertain,

or one of a thousand other situations that threaten your calmness and stability.

Knowing there's a reliable source we can depend on to help us get through it all is reassuring.

Paul the apostle is an excellent example of surviving despite a steady barrage of seeming setbacks. He wrote the letter to the Philippians, among others, while he was in prison for preaching Christ's positive, soul-saving message. Yet, despite not knowing whether he'd live or die, let alone be released from his imprisonment, he wrote that he could do all things through the One who gave Him strength. He said he could remain calm no matter the circumstances because he relied on Someone bigger than his circumstances.

Somebody once said, "You're either in a storm, just got out of one, or about to enter one." True enough. It sounds scary, but realistically, we understand that change and trouble come to all. Who knows what's around the corner? It doesn't matter; we have God's word, which instills courage, and His help through His Son, which provides hope.

So, no matter what curveball life hurls at you, keep calm and carry on.

"I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13).

The key to happiness is so simple. It comes through having the right attitude toward life. Solomon said, “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov.23:7). The Christian should be the happiest person on earth because he has forgiveness of sins and the Word of God to guide his thinking.

No one “finds” happiness. Happiness is not to be found in another person, place or thing.

We do not experience happiness because of what we get. We experience happiness because of how we live each moment. True happiness comes from within. One must be happy with oneself before he can achieve true inner self respect. The state of being happy is an acquired skill, a thinking process.   So, how can we achieve happiness?  Think on these things:

1. Replace covetousness with contentment (Phil. 4:6-7). “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Are you consumed with what someone else has or does instead of being happy with what you have, thanking God for His blessings?

2. Count blessings rather than burdens. What do you think about all day? Do you go through the day remembering things that have brought you joy? Your mind, if you are not careful, will play tricks on you and you will find that unhappy thoughts crowd out the good thoughts. We all have unpleasant experiences; but we must not let our minds dwell on them. Remember Jesus said, “Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matt.11:28). James 5:11 tells us those who endure under hardships and adversities will be blessed.

3. Let go of selfishness. Webster’s Dictionary: “Concerned excessively with oneself; seeking or concentrating on one’s own advantage, well being without regard for others, etc.” Phil. 2:3-4: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others.”  Giving of ourselves is something we must learn; but don’t you come away feeling better after you have ministered to the elderly or the sick?   Once we begin to practice such things, we begin to see what is really worth while in this life.

4. Let go of self-seeking. Do you go through each day searching for something to fulfill your needs and desires? We will be unhappy and miserable until we realize that trusting in God is the answer to our need for peace. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

5. Let go of anger. Free yourself from the emotions that harbor anger.  Someone once said, “Anger is the acid that destroys the container.” The person anger hurts the most is the one who cannot let go of it. To neutralize anger, one must make a choice to control it and to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32). ”But now you must also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth” (Col. 3:8).

Happiness is an attitude, not a condition. It’s cleaning the house or organizing your closet while listening to music. It’s your family assembled at the dinner table. Happiness is in the present not in the distant promise of a “someday when.” Are you one who says, “If I had a house, a new car, etc., then I would be happy?” Don’t fool yourself and waste your life waiting on “someday.” The apostle Paul said he had  “... learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11).

So many times we accomplish things we think we want and upon doing it we realize it has not made us happy. Having experienced cancer myself, I want to share with you something Chris Cowley has written in “The Sandra J. Bryant Bosom Buddies Newsletter” which she publishes for those who have had cancer:

TODAY

Today I smiled, and all at once

Everything didn’t appear so bad.

Today I shared with others

The love and hope I had.

Today I sang a joyful song

And felt my heart grow light.

Today I loved a little more freely

And complained a little less.

In the giving of myself

I found peace and happiness.

The attitude of happiness is developed by consciously experiencing where you are, what you are doing, and how you re feeling. It is living in the present. It is paying attention and perceiving that which normally goes unnoticed. Another cancer survivor, wrote the following:

TODAY

Outside my window, a new day I see,

And only I can determine what kind it will be.

It can be busy and sunny, laughing and gay,

Or boring and cold, unhappy and gray.

My own state of mind is the determining key,

For I’m the only person I let myself be.

I can be thoughtful and do all to help,

Or be selfish and think of just myself.

I can enjoy what I do, make it seem fun,

Or gripe and complain and make it hard on someone.

I can be patient with those who may not understand,

Or belittle and hurt them as much as I can.

But I have faith in myself, and believe what I say

And personally intend to make the best of each day.

"Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:4-5).

The threat experienced in Asia may have come from Jerusalem or Rome, but grace and peace come from the throne of Jesus Christ who even has power over death and He even rules over the kings of the earth. Our source of grace and peace is far greater than the opposition who try to specialize in dealing out fear and anxiety. Jesus “was” from eternity. As deity, He has no beginning and no end. Therefore, he cannot be defeated. “Kings of the earth” do not hold power over death.

They are also fickle and changing. The kings of the earth can feel like appeasing certain people one day and feel like turning on them and crushing them the next. There is nothing “faithful” about them. Our “faithful witness” has loved us faithfully to the death and is also faithful to show His power over death itself. So, who will we fear and respect the most? The fickle rulers of the earth? Or will we be more impressed with the “ruler over the kings of the earth?”

I like “grace and peace” and I know a dependable and faithful source who is far greater than governments on the earth. Politics on Earth is usually a source of worry, fear, and anxiety. Let’s learn the “faithful” and dependable resources we can have for grace and peace within, the One far more powerful than all the kings, presidents, and rulers of the earth combined, and He even rules what happens to us beyond death. Yoke to Him and find rest for your soul!