The Absence of Stressors

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11 The prolific early Christian author Tertullian, from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa, once made a famous observation while witnessing the suffering and deaths of his friends, family, and heroes. He said, “The blood of the martyrs is seed.” Tertullian did not desire bloodshed or death; rather, this saying brought him comfort. He noticed that the more Christians were persecuted, the more rapidly the church grew. To put it another way, if you’re facing tough times, it may feel frustrating, but let me remind you: the absence of stress or challenge can weaken even the strongest among us. Prolonged sitting is actually more harmful than regular movement. Today, more people die from over-nutrition than under-nutrition, and much of