2 Corinthians 1:8 (AMPC) For we do not want you to be uniformed, brethren, about the affliction and oppressing distress which befell us in [the province of] Asia, how we were so utterly and unbearably weighed down and crushed that we despaired even of life [itself].

Pressure can come to all of us. Since we can't always keep pressure from showing up in our lives, we must know how to get rid of it. We must learn to cast all of our cares upon the Lord. I also think, to get complete help in this area, we need to know why pressure comes. One definition of the word “pressure” is to squeeze or crush. Have you ever felt squeezed or crushed by life? The Apostle Paul shares with us his experience in 2 Corinthians 1:8 (AMPC) saying, “...How we were so utterly and unbearably weighed down and crushed that we despaired even of life [itself]." So even the Apostle Paul experienced pressure and stress, and that stress was sent by the devil to see to it that Paul's life fell apart. That is what stress does, and that is what the devil intends for stress to do to you. The word “stress” in engineering circles is a term used to determine how much pressure a structure can take before it collapses. That’s what the devil wants to happen to us, but we are not going to allow him to "collapse" our lives and dreams. 

I have found, from the Word of God, reasons, I believe, that pressure comes to our lives. These reasons are not knowing who you are in God, not knowing who God is in you, not being confident you can hear from God (follow the leading of the Holy Spirit), and not thinking that through God you can handle every situation the devil throws your way. So, besides casting your cares upon the Lord and leaving them with Him, you and I need to deal with these things that I’ve mentioned. 

The first stress reliever is that once and for all, you must know who you are in Christ. When you know who you are in Him, the devil will not be able to heap any stress or pressure upon you because you will know that you are complete in Him, and He is taking care of every problem. When someone is not sure of the “In Christ” realities, they try to handle things on their own. Second, you must know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who God is in you. You must know that greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world; and that the same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you. That power is enough to handle every burden and storm in your life. Third, you must decide, once and for all, you know God's voice. When you realize that as a son of God, you are always led by His Spirit and that as His sheep, you know His voice, you will become confident. When you know what God has said to you about the situation, it will give you confidence rather than stress because stress comes from not knowing what God is going to do about it. Last, you have to know that you and God can handle anything that tries to bring pressure and stress your way because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, you are more than a conqueror through Him, and He always causes you to triumph. If you are not sure of the outcome, you will be stressed. If you are not sure if it is going to work out, you will feel pressure, and you will collapse. Listen to me when I say, He will never forsake you, and He will never lessen His hold on you, so cast your cares on Him and live pressure free!