“…'cause I can't bear the pressure.” I’ve replayed ‘Holy Spirit’ on several occasions and with each repeat, I’m reminded that judging others based on their portrayed success is simply flawed. We often repeat the words, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” but how many of us can attest to abiding by this advice? How many of us can cast a stone at those who fall short when the verdict calls (John 8:7)?
Being that Stormzy is possibly at the prime of his career, most may be quick to dismiss his vulnerability. It’s human nature. In fact, just recently, a friend expressed that one of my previous actions had hurt him. What’s interesting is I felt hurt too but had never processed the outcome of events from his perspective; until I addressed the elephant in the room. As we ended the conversation, I was reminded that we all possess emotions regardless of how we package our outward appearances. We all have our demons to fight.
Several years ago, I stumbled upon the concept of ‘Black tax’ in Trevor Noah’s book- Born a Crime. In brief, Black tax is money that *some* Black professionals provide to their family every month outside of their own living expenses- usually out of obligation. I reread that chapter not because I felt seen, but because I now understood pressure can morph into varied forms. Imagine meeting someone who hails from a wealthy family. Now imagine you find out she has battled with critical health issues her entire life and cries herself to sleep most nights. Just imagine if she had never opened up to you- wouldn’t you have assumed she is incredibly fortunate? Yet in her case, she hopes to breathe another day…
Now if there’s one belief I’ve embraced over the years, it’s this- knowing when to ask for help and how to accept it when offered can transform the entire scope of your life. It’s no secret that whenever God puts a great purpose in your life, He will put a great problem in front of it. But ultimately, it’s up to you to tackle the problem alone or engage the angels He sends your way to pursue the shared purpose (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). And when you can pursue the purpose, the promises will never allude you.