The Benefits of Stressors

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” – John 15:1,2 Isn’t it interesting that everything truly alive benefits from stressors? For example, when a tree has its branches cut off—a process we call pruning—it springs back to life in a new way. I recently watched a documentary about a winemaker who explained that the secret to producing delicious grapes is to put the vines under stress. By giving them just enough water and sunshine, the grapes have to struggle, resulting in a richer, more flavorful fruit. Consider another example of beneficial stress: recent studies show that older adults who regularly do Sudoku—a mentally challenging puzzle—maintain sharper minds compared to those who don’t. Mental stressors like these can help