Faith Under Pressure

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Well, hello, my valued listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Living in Your Power.
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I'm your host, Dr. Marlene Greenleaf, and I am so happy that you are here with me today.
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Now, as we continue our March theme, Rooted and Resilient, Strength That Endures,
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today we are leaning into something every growing leader encounters.
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Pressure.
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In today's episode, the third in our March series is entitled Fate Under Pressure.
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Now pressure does not create weakness.
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Pressure, in my opinion, reveals foundation.
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It reveals what we are rooted in. It reveals what we rely on.
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It reveals where our fate truly rests.
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When everything is calm, confidence feels easy.
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But when outcomes are uncertain, when timelines shift,
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when criticism rises, when doors close, that's when faith is tested not because
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God moved but because comfort.
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Our anchored scripture today comes from 2 Corinthians 4, verse 8-9,
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the New King James Version.
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It says, We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
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We are perplexed, but not in despair.
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Persecuted, but not forsaken. Cast down, but not destroyed.
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I want you to think on this real slow. I'm going to say this one more time.
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We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
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We are perplexed, but not in despair.
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Persecuted, but not forsaken. Cast down, but not destroyed.
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We are troubled, but not crushed.
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We are sometimes perplexed, but not hopeless.
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We are pressed, but not abandoned.
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So pressure is acknowledged, but defeat is not declared.
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Fate on the pressure does not deny difficulty. It refuses destruction.
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The Apostle Paul doesn't pretend that adversity isn't real.
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He simply declares that it is not final.
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And that, my dear listeners, is resilience.
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Fate under pressure is not loud.
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It's not dramatic. It's the quiet decision to remain anchored when everything feels unstable.
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It's choosing prayer over panic, reflection over reaction, and trust over fear.
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When pressure rises, you have a choice.
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You can react from emotion or respond from your conviction.
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One drains you and the other deepens you.
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So pressure can either shake you loose or strengthen your roots.
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So let's reflect on this.
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Where am I feeling pressure right now?
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Is it revealing fear or strengthening fate?
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Am I reacting to the weight or allowing it to refine me?
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My dear listeners, you are not being crushed. You are being clarified.
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So fate under pressure produces steadiness and steadiness.
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Produces insurance so I want to repeat on this reflection and invitation for
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you again I want you to think on this and journal it write it down,
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where am I feeling pressure right now.
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And is it revealing fear or is it strengthening fate?
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Am I reacting to the weight or allowing it to refine me?
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I want you to think on these, jot it down, and clear your head as you think
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on these reflection questions.
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And remember, you are not being crushed.
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You are being clarified and faith
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under pressure produces steadiness and steadiness produces endurance.
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So my friends, in closing, I want you to remember that pressure is not proof that you are feeling.
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Sometimes it is proof that you are in fact growing.
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So when your roots grow deeper than your circumstances, you can remain steady
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even when life feels uncertain.
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So I want to thank you for joining me on this episode in our March series,
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Rooted and Resilient, Strength That Endures.
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Thank you for listening. and until next time dear listeners continue to live
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boldly in your power today and if it gets tough just breathe.
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You still got the strength to rise so until next time continue to live in your
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power and just breathe either.