Stress is a part of Life Series
“Stress is problematic” [difficult, hard, thorny] – making great mental demands
James 1:2 – My brethren, count it ALL JOY when you fall into various trials.
By Pastor George Lehman
Trials and the stress they bring are Predictable – all of us will encounter them, they can be Problematic.
For many people it can be one of your worst enemies.
It has ruined many lives and relationships.
Stress hurts (its unpleasant)– it has cost people their health and happiness.
Proverbs 25:28 (NIV) – Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
With no self-control you are an open target for the enemy.
We will have to take self-control of our lives – when we face the trials and hardships, because if we don’t, we will live defeated lives.
Yet, James said to consider “Various trials to be ALL JOY”.
James’s term for “various trials” is an interesting word in Greek.
The phrase can be literally translated as “many-coloured trials”.
James knew that not all trials are alike and how we all react to stress differs.
Some people’s response to stress may be purple.
They allow stress to so beat them up that they end up bruised and battered.
Some responses are blue.
They allow stress to lead them into a state of depression where they feel blue.
Some responses are green.
They see others seemingly living carefree, stress-free lives that they become green with envy.
Still others deal with stress with the colour red.
Stress builds up within them, they react with anger, even rage, toward those around them.
Then there are those who deal with stress with the colour yellow.
They simply retreat, give up in cowardice [lafhartigheid] into their own little world.
And some deal with stress with the colour black.
For these people, everything in their experience becomes dark.
James was reminding us that there are many different kinds of trials and different kinds of reaction to the trials.
Some trials are natural.
They result from sickness, accidents, disappointments, or many other painful circumstances.
They occur because we live in fleshly bodies in a sinful world.
Other trials are supernatural in origin. They come our way because of our faith.
1 Peter 4:12-13 (LB) – 12 Dear friends, don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you. 13 Instead, be really glad—because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterwards you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory in that coming day when it will be displayed.
For whatever reason a trial comes and in whatever form, the stress it causes can be Problematic.
NB!! The top medical aid claims and prescriptions are for ‘preventable diseases’.
Caused mainly by stress:
Excessive smoking.
Drinking of alcohol.
Drugs (upper and downers)
Obesity – stress induced eating.
It’s easy for us to read about the trials that Job faced. The stress he must have gone through – we can only read about it.
Job 1:19-22 (NIV) – 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 2:9-10 (NIV) – 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
James 5:11 (NIV) – As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
If we look at Job’s end because of counting it all joy…
Job 42:12a (NIV) – The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.
For as much as stress can be Problematic, it can also have great advantage to our spiritual growth and development.
If you are willing to allow yourself to trust God to fulfil His promises to you in His word…you will get through every trial victoriously.
Trials, hardships, difficulties, like the seasons, do not last forever.
This phrase is used in so many places in the bible – “And it came to pass”. Stay in season with God.
James 1:2 (Amp) – Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
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