It’s a fact that there’s not a machine in this world that performs better the more you use it. Why? Because its mechanisms wear out. In contrast, the more you use the human body, the better it gets. The human mind gets better and better the more you use it. The more you utilize the human spirit, the more powerful it becomes. Imagine an athlete doing exercises she hates in the gym. If the weights are too heavy, she cannot complain to her coach. Pressing on is the only option. The best way to destroy the spirit of a person is to keep them comfortable and remove their stress. 

Although some of us haven’t experienced excessive trauma, we all experience a lot of stress. But the good news is we have the option of viewing stress as a gift. Last week we discussed turning our distress into eustress, a healthy and stimulating level of stress that boosts motivation, focus, and drive. I’m sure you don’t need to seek out more stress in your life, but when it comes, embrace it. When you acknowledge that you have everything within you to handle the situation, it will actually happen!  

Friend, as you trust and lean into God by not running from stress, watch the power that unfolds. God has a doorway filled with light. It’s difficult to see what’s inside from the outside, but when you step into it, you’ll see more clearly and discover the greater blessings God has in store for you. This will be a different way of living, but it will also be an excellent way of living. This is because it’s a life made by God, especially for you!