The Antidote to AnxietyShembull

Good Stress and Bad Stress

Have you ever been stressed out? Of course you have! It's something we can all relate to. But what does it really mean to be stressed? Stress is how we perceive, believe, react, and cope with life's pressures. All forms of stress produce a very well-documented physical reaction in the body. We typically think of stress as a bad thing. It surely can be, but in another sense, some stress is good. Without stress, we can't grow.

Think about it like going to the gym. Lifting weights causes muscle growth. In the same way, the right level of stress in life can help you develop emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

We each have different reactions to stress. For some of us, stress makes us sit and simmer, stewing in our problems. For others, we might catapult into overdrive, crossing things off of our to-do list fast enough to light a fire! Whether our natural tendency is action or inaction, there is a first step we should always take: submit the situation to the Lord.

The outcome may not be what we expect (or even what we want), but by taking our stress to Him, we get the privilege of seeing His fingerprints on our lives. This produces the kind of godly patience that James mentions in today's guiding verse.

The Greek word for patience used in James 1:2-3 essentially means the steadfastness that God gives us to endure life's challenges. Simply put, patience is endurance in the face of stress. This is why James tells us to “count it all joy” when we experience hard times. God can turn our trials into triumphs because He uses the hard things for our growth.

Take some time to reflect on how God uses life's stressors. What difficult seasons has God used the most to help you grow?

As you engage with God’s word:

● What is my typical response to stress?

● What is God saying to me?

● What do I need to do about it?

After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer.