Codes for Christian Living
Stress is Predictable
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. —JAMES 1:1–2
What?!? James was telling us to count it all joy when we “fall into various trials”? Most of us count it joy when we escape the trials of life, not when we fall into them! And notice that James was not saying to count it joy if we fall into trials. He said we are to count it joy when we fall into them. Experiencing stress is not an if; it’s a when. Stress is predict-able: it is inevitable, inescapable, unavoidable. We all experience it. We can’t avoid it. Stress happens.
In fact, we can read the Bible from cover to cover, and nowhere will we find the promise that we’re immune to stress or sickness, exempt from trials or tribulations. Some, how-ever, teach falsely that if we’re living the Spirit-filled life, we’ll have only smooth sailing on the sea of God’s will. But may I remind you that our Lord Himself warned, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Yes, stress is predictable. We can’t avoid stress, but it can be good for us. Stress can, for instance, be a motivating factor: it can motivate us to make changes in our life or our lifestyle. However, too much stress coupled with not knowing how to deal with it can be detrimental mentally, spiritually, and physically.
Although stress is predictable and can indeed have ramifications, it does not have to be our foe. Stress can be a friend. Consider that God never calls upon us to work harder than He did in the creation event—and He took the seventh day off! Many of our physical challenges are the result of our own bad decisions, and the same is true about mental challenges. Isaiah put it like this: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul had his own prescription for stress: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7). James continued his instruction. We should count it joy when we face what? Trials. There is a difference between a trial and a temptation. Trials come from God to strengthen the Christian’s ability to stand; temptations come from the Devil to cause the Christian to stumble. None of us can avoid trials. They are predictable. No matter who we are or how long we have journeyed in the Christian faith, we will face stress. The sooner we realize this fact, the sooner we can learn to deal with it.
Jesus knew better than anyone that stressful trials come our way, yet He never appeared to be stressed out. We never find Him wringing His hands or anxiously pacing. Instead we see Jesus get away, alone with His heavenly Father, from time to time. If He needed those times of solace and solitude, how much more do we?
Content drawn from The James Code: 52 Scripture Principles for Putting Your Faith into Action.