I read an article one day that I found quite interesting. The title was, What causes us to choke when we are under pressure?
Even the title caught my attention because at that precise moment I was dealing with some things. I had even thought about giving up. The article talked about a basketball player who never missed a shot. However, when it came to a game-winning throw, he missed the shot. Then it talked about a golfer who missed the winning shot after he had played a perfect game the entire day.
So, what happens? What makes us choke when we are under pressure? I was not surprised to find it was as simple as thinking too much.
This article says that we will choke on things that we normally do perfectly any other time if we overthink it. That is what happened to the two people mentioned in the article and that is what often happens to us as Christians.
We breathe faith, we walk faith, we talk faith, but then one day we find ourselves in a place where we need our faith more than ever. Faith that came easy the day before, suddenly has added pressure and we often choke.
Maybe God has told you to step out in faith for something; you step out and everything is going fine…for a while. Then challenges begin to come your way. You want to keep walking in faith, but you begin to have thoughts like, “What if God doesn’t come through?”
Or maybe God has told you to sow a seed and you begin to think, “What if I need this money, last month was short, what if I give this and God doesn’t meet MY needs?”
I know that feeling; I have been there many times. God tells me to sow a large seed, and my mind begins to reel with the negative possibilities.
It is for this reason that the Bible says in Philippians 4:8; Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.
God knows if we think on negative things, it will affect our outcome. If we speak negative things it will affect our outcome quickly. God also know if we meditate on good things, things that are true – like the promises of God – then we will draw those things to us, and He will be able to work in our lives and bring forth all He has vowed and promised.
As I read the article, one thing stopped me in my tracks, it said if we overthink things, it will cause paralysis by analysis. Isn’t that an awesome statement! When you overthink things and think on the negative side of things it will paralysis you. I have had that happen in my own life.
Paralysis by analysis happens when you try to overthink situations or when you try to control a situation that God already has in control. Have you been there? Have you ever felt paralyzed in your faith? I know I have.
In my life, I choose to do as the Word of God says and meditate daily on the Word of God and the promises of God for my life and the lives of my family. I know, in doing so I can avoid being paralyzed in my faith by over analyzing a situation. I will keep my mind on God and in doing so, He will keep me in perfect peace…I am praying you will do the same.
