My goal today is to convince you that you need a little more stress in your life! Most people probably don’t agree with this statement, because in modern culture, we are allergic to stress. But there is a type of stress that does more for you than against you. In my childhood, I spent a lot of time on boats, and I was constantly seasick. Growing up, I lived about four miles from the ocean, and I got jobs on my dad’s boat and other small fishing boats. I enjoyed these times immensely, but they were somewhat stressful because I was always sick to my stomach. When I was 18, my dad and I went on a 7-day trip. For the first three days, I was seasick and I tried all known remedies. Fascinatingly, my brain snapped on the third day, and I suddenly stopped being seasick and never got sick again! I’m not sure what broke through at that moment, but it taught me an important lesson. 

Friend, all of us have experienced moments in life when we’re facing something that we don’t want to keep pushing through; the stress is too much, and we feel like we can’t handle it. As a result, we don’t reap the rewards of all the effort we put in. Yes, the process of reaching our God-given goals can be very frustrating, especially when there’s lots of stress, pressure or distractions. But, if we keep taking action, it will get easier and easier and faster and faster until we’ve completed and fulfilled our assignment. That’s my prayer for you. Today, allow the Holy Spirit to give you patience and fortitude so you can work past the stress and enjoy the sweet fruit of your labor.