STRESS is part of life
In every success story, you will find someone who has made a courageous decision. – Peter Drucker
By Pastor George Lehman
God is concerned about you and what you go through.
We are not a David, Abraham, a Daniel, or Moses, but we are more than equipped to be all God wants us to be and get through what we are going through.
Can you say this with confidence…?
“I’ve grown up a lot, I’m on my way and I’ve learned some valuable life lessons”. I’m teachable and still learning. Getting through tough stuff is in direct proportion to your spiritual growth.
If you’re like me, your challenge is not knowing what Christ calls us to do, but to actually do it.
As James said:
James 1:22 (Amp) – But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. (Many justify their behaviour)
Stress: Five fascinating facts.
James 1:1 (Amp) – James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered abroad [among the Gentiles in the dispersion]: Greetings (rejoice)!
STRESS! Perhaps no other word is used as much to describe the culprit, the scapegoat, the excuse of modern man.
Many of our problems in our homes, businesses and our health seem to be related to the stress factor.
Stress has been around through the ages.
Notice, James is writing to Christians who were scattered abroad.
These were Christians who faced persecution so severe that we can only read about it.
Hebrews 11:36-38 (NIV) – 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated. 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
They had to flee from their homes, their jobs, their possessions, even families. The first sign of discomfort and inconvenience we stop, give up and drift.
“TALK ABOUT STRESS”.
Yet, God permitted these early believers to experience the scattering and the resulting stress for a purpose.
If they stayed in Jerusalem, the Gospel would not have spread in just one generation throughout the Roman Empire.
James was writing to people facing ‘various trials’, ‘hardships’ and ‘fears.’
And so, God allowed this letter to be included in His word for you and me.
Romans 15:4 (NIV) – For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
James is instructing us how to deal with stress – this word of James was written long before thousands of books on the subject was written.
Stress is often God’s way of telling us that our life is out of balance.
In fact, James was teaching that stress is a warning signal that can be one of life’s greatest tools to live a joyful, victorious life.
Learning to effectively deal with high anxiety when [not if] it comes will result in longer, happier, and even healthier lives.
We will see how relevant this word from James is to the 22nd Century Christians.
In the initial paragraphs of his letter, James revealed five fascinating facts about stress.
#1 Stress is predictable [te verwagte].
We all know stress happens and it’s not going away.
#2 Stress is problematic[problematies].
If we don’t deal with stress, it can be detrimental and even destructive to your health, your home, your happiness and your hope.
#3 Stress is paradoxical [teenstrydig] (Save money by spending it)
(If I know one thing; it’s that I know nothing)
James 1:2- said to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials”.
#4 Stress is purposeful[doelgerig].
Some of us go through the furnace of stress and come out like refined gold.
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NIV) – 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
#5 Stress can be profitable[winsgewend].
God can use stress for our good and for His glory – and He always does.
I want you to see, that behind the hand of James is the “Hand of God” Himself writing to you and me at a point of personal need.
James saw victory in the tragedy; abundant life through the pain and hurt.
James 1:2-4 (Amp) – 2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are *enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith *bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. (We can’t separate our lives one with God; the other in the world)
*enveloped = completely surrounded, enclosed
*Bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience = it will make you fit for the long journey of growth and victory
Over the next weeks we are going to look at each of these…
Five fascinating facts from James.
Psalm 34:19 (NIV) – A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord [But God factor] delivers him from them ALL.
YOU CAN DO IT!
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