If you’re a parent, do you want your kids to feel pressured or confused when you ask them to do something? No. You want them to understand what to do and then respond in obedience. God the Father wants the same thing for and from you.

The only time pressure could be legitimate is if God has told you to do something and you keep saying “no.” Then the pressure will build. But there’s always peace when you say “yes” to what God’s asking you to do.

Satan wants to drive you compulsively, but God wants to draw you compassionately. Satan wants to take advantage of your compulsions and use them to drive your life. But God is your Good Shepherd. He wants to draw you toward himself and peace.

The late Peter Lord, a pastor I deeply respected, used to say, “Ninety percent of what God wants to say to you is encouragement.” If negative messages are all you ever hear from God, something’s wrong. The wires have been crossed.

If you feel like God has told you to do something but you’re increasingly anxious because of it, then something’s not right.

The Bible tells you, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).