“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.”
– Hebrews 11:32-24
![]() Yesterday, we talked about not being afraid of failure because it’s ultimately part of winning. Today, I want to talk to you about stress, and specifically encourage you to not be afraid of it. Do you know that stress is actually good for you? In clinical psychology, there’s significant proof that not undergoing enough productive pressure is one of the leading causes of depression and anxiety. Even though magazines and media often make it seem like all strain is bad, there’s a type of stress called EU stress that comes when you’re doing new things. Very often, when you stay in the same cycle and do similar things every day, it gives rise to a sense of anxiety and depression because of the perception of being stuck. However, EU stress (EU comes from the Greek word for good) is what stretches you and causes you to grow. Just understanding this and assuming a more positive view of stress can make you healthier overall. Friends, just like the Biblical heroes of the last century, the stress you face when you do good things for the Lord is part of the process of living a victorious life. It’s important to take breaks and pace yourself, but pushing your faith to the limit is an open invitation to Jesus to work miracles in your life. Power is not contained in comfort and stability, it is channeled through a risk-taking, radically trusting faith in the One with whom nothing is impossible! |
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for using stress in my life to grow my faith and lead me to a place of deeper trust in you.
Reflection
In retrospect, how has stress produced positive results in your life?