Many people believe that peer pressure, or intimidation, is something only children experience, but that is not true. 

Intimidation takes place when someone attempts to press you to do something you are not comfortable with doing. Generally, peer pressure is negative, an encouragement by others for you to do something that is morally wrong.

For children, it usually comes from other children they associate with, ie, their peers.

However, adults experience peer pressure regularly. Since adults have peers who are different ages, the pressure can be even greater than it is for children.

Whether young or old, peer pressure can be devastating. It can cause severe stress, and similar to the impact peer pressure has on children, it can be damaging and long lasting.

Consider Eve (Genesis 3:1-13):

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Eve experienced peer pressure from Satan [He is always trying to pressure us into doing things we shouldn’t.] Eve didn’t turn to God for strength to resist the pressure – a fatal mistake.

As a result of Eve’s actions, and Adam going along with her, every living person since has been subject to a sin nature. 

It is possible, when we are in a right relationship with the Lord, through Jesus Christ, that we can resist peer pressure and intimidation to do the wrong thing.

Daniel is a wonderful example of a man who could have been intimidated by others to do what would cause him to compromise his relationship with the Lord.

Daniel was a man who served the Lord faithfully in an ungodly culture, for approximately 70 years. As a result of his relationship with God, Daniel had an amazing reputation: 

“Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” Daniel 6:3

How do people react to such situations? The ungodly react by being jealous and envious. That is exactly what we see happen. Daniel’s peers developed a scheme to discredit him, and the king unwittingly agreed with the evil plan, not paying attention to the possible consequences of his actions. After all, his ego was stroked when the plan was to force everyone to worship him for 30 days [Daniel 6:6-9]. 

Daniel’s peers were attempting to pressure him to go against his devotion to his God.

But God strengthened Daniel, whose resolve was to remain faithful to the Lord: 

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” [Daniel 6:10-14] 

Darius realized his error, but it was too late: “When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.”

The king was then pressured into taking action that he regretted having to take: “Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed. So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” [Daniel 6:15-16]

But God preserved Daniel in the lion’s den, and Daniel’s enemies were recipients of the punishment God saved Daniel from experiencing [Daniel 6:17-24]. 

Daniel was then promoted, with his faith intact, and edified because his obedience to reject peer pressure was met with the omnipotent saving power of his God!

God’s people must be very cautious in this world that wants to derail us in our relationship with the Lord. Words such as “tolerance” and “political correctness”, etc., are meant to intimidate us. God’s people are also tempted by feeling a need to “keep up with the Joneses”. Television commercials pressure us into thinking we are inadequate, and that we need to change based upon what they are selling. Each day there are so many ways pressure is placed upon us.

But God clearly tells us in His word that we are fearfully and wonderfully made [Psalm 139], and that He will provide everything we require [Philippians 4:19]. When we believe these truths, and rest in them, we find contentment in God, which is one of our tools to help us resist peer pressure.

God’s word is filled with promises to help us find our complete identity in Him. When we are satisfied with who we are, and what He has provided for us, people and Satan can try to waylay us, but God will help us to walk faithfully with Him.

After all, we ARE made in His image, and when we have a relationship with Jesus, we are His children. God will never turn His back on us, but will help us walk victoriously with Him.

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Palm 84:11)

“The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but He thwarts the craving of the wicked.” (Proverbs 10:3)

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!”  (Ephesians 3:20)

Want to talk about being pressured or intimated to do something against God?  Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

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Copyright 2022 Donna Shappy

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