Stress has a Useful Purpose (Part 2)

As we see in James 1:3-8, for the Christian, God uses those stressful events, events not of our doing, for His purpose and for our profit. In these verses we see four useful purposes of stress: Stress produces endurance, maturity, prayer, and faith. Let me briefly explain each. If you ever ran a marathon, you know that you cannot do it overnight, it is a process that you work at, the same can be said about our endurance or patience in this life. God allows stress to build up and exercise that inner quality or strength, in order for us to make it through the whole race called life.
We also see in verse 4, stress produces maturity. The more someone has been through, the more qualified they they are to help and give counsel to those who have yet to face that valley. God is not satisfied with a halfway job. He wants all Christians to be a perfect work, in other words, He wants mature children. In verses 5-6, we see that stress produces a more perfect and complete prayer life. It is true for most Christians, when we get hammered with stressful life events, we usually fall on our knees in prayer. How many people, after 9/11, began to pray, praying in places and at times they were not use to praying at? God allows stress to help develop our prayer life. Last, stress produces faith (1:6). What the writer is saying here is, "Don't let stress toss you around, but rather let it strengthen your faith." Lack of faith is a sign of immaturity and instability; and God uses the stressful events of life to strengthen our faith and dependence on Him. Romans 8:28 is very true, God will work all things (yes, even the bad ones, and even our unseen stresses), for good for those who love Him. Keep walking close to Christ.

Stress Has a Useful Purpose

If the world was looking at a stress-filled life, most would concluded that stress was a waste of time and energy, and yet Scripture teaches us that although stress is a part of the Christian life, with the right attitude, we will be able to see that God uses the stresses in our lives for His glory. Now, let me make it clear, there are two types of stress, first, there are the stresses brought on by our own making. Second, there are stresses that hit us unexpectedly. Most of our stress is of our own choosing and making. Don't buy a car you can't afford, the interest rate and monthly payment will bring stress. You can be assure that God will not be glorified through your careless purchasing habits. The "stresses" that we find in James 1:2-12, is the stress brought about by an unexpected phone-call, an unexpected pink slip, and unexpected doctor's visit. It is through those moments, that God has promised to walk with us and make us stronger through them.

This week, let me share this fact about stress, stress is a paradox. A paradox is something that seems contradictory and yet it is true. How can we have joy through trials (James 1:2)? Is God telling us to be happy when we lose our job or get cancer? No! We are to find comfort and joy in the fact, that as a Christian, He is walking close to us, and He has promised to work all things for our good (Romans 8:28). Joseph had this attitude after looking back on his most difficult life; "you meant it for evil, but God used it for good..." (Gen. 50:20). What about Job, after loosing all his possessions, family, and health, he states, "But He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10) What about Jesus, did Jesus experience a stressful life? Heb. 12:2 - "For the joy that was before Him, He endured the cross..." Yes, stress does bring joy; maybe not in the present, but if we keep faithful to Him, and simply trust Him, He will use those moments of testing to make us more like Him. Stress is a good test. Stress will make you stronger and mature - just ask a diamond or a pearl the value of stress. Well, until next time keep walking close to Christ.

Christians are not immuned to stress

As we saw last week, stress is a predictable problem in every area of our life, and yet for the Christian stress can be overcome by having the right attitude. In 1 Kings 19:1-ff, we find a man by the name of Elijah, not an ordinary man, but the prophet of the Living God who has experience a great victory over the prophets of Baal. In fact, Israel has witnessed the God of Israel pouring fire out of heaven and consuming the altar. Then, over 400 false prophets are killed, followed by the first drops of rain in 2 1/2 years. This is a great time of worship and revival. Yet what follows in the life of Elijah a week of more stress followed by a break down emotionally, spiritually, physically, and mentally. In O.S. Hawkins' book High Calling High Anxiety, he identifies four sources of stress: forgetfulness, fear, fatigue, and failure. This is followed by five symptoms of stress: detachment, despondency, a defeat mentality, deception, defensiveness.
When Elijah forgot about the past victories and allowed the fear of death to overtake his thinking; and while pouring himself out physically to the people for days, and the end result seems to be a death sentence, it is no surprise that Elijah was overcome by stress. And as stress settles in, then we see this prophet's attitude change from one of victory to one of negativity, even negativity toward's self and God. It is from his own mouth he declares, "God kill me, I don't want to live anymore. Yet, God understood what he was facing and feeling, and God understands what you are facing as well. Notice what God did for Elijah. First, He made him eat and rest. Second, He appeared to him in the most personal way (still small voice). Third, God gave Elijah a new task. He wanted His servant to know that his life was not used up, and that He wanted him to continue representing the true and Living God in this stressful world.
Let me encourage you not to give up and let stress overwhelm your life. God is not done with you. If He was, then He would have called you home. He still wants you to be a faithful witness is this very hostile world. But for now, He might be telling you to refocus your attention to Him. If you are weary and heavy laden, give your burdens to Him and He will give you rest. If you are constantly worrying, God's Word says, "Do not be anxious about anything...but pray" (Phil 4:6). Hold tightly to Is. 26:3, the Christian key for dealing with stress - "You (God) will keep him (God's child) in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you (God) because he (God's child) trusts in you (God)." Until next time, keep walking with Christ.