Tuesday, September 17, 2024
To believe that something is possible is what makes greatness.
Bishop T.D. Jakes
I quit a lot of things this year—grad school, my job, ministry, and I could name a few other important things. It was stressful and disappointing, and I have been tempted to make that stress my enemy. My natural inclination is to give it the power to become self-defeating and lead me into depression and pessimism.
To deal with it all in a constructive way, I decided to pick up a past discipline of mine, running. Getting back into running has reminded me to keep going and that there is opportunity to be found in stress.
Stress is not the enemy, and it’s not all bad. It even has the potential to unlock possibilities for something greater.
James 1:2-4
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Stress, like running, is what keeps us going in times of unforeseen circumstances. It refines us and tests our faith. As James says, our troubles build endurance, or another way to put it is steadfastness, which means to be unwavering.
My challenges have provided an opportunity for me to recenter myself on Jesus and open myself to God’s plan for my life.
Hebrews 12:1b
And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.
We must all be steadfast and unwavering in our faith as we run the race set before us. It’s difficult not knowing where the race will lead us, but we can be confident that Jesus has already declared victory.
Do you trust in God’s plan for your life?
You have a choice: Stress can be your enemy, or it can be an opportunity to grow your faith and allow God to produce something greater in you and through you.
Questions:
What opportunities do you have through stress to become more effective in your faith and life?
What is something that has been stressing you out that you need to quit?
How are you unwavering in faith and in life? What is keeping you going?
Next Steps:
Bring back a healthy discipline you have quit—it doesn't have to be running!
Give yourself permission to quit something that is burning you out.
Talk to a friend about how God is growing your faith.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I pray for steadfastness, that I would be unwavering in my faith in you and this beautiful life you have given me. I trust you, God. I believe in you. I do not know where this race will lead, but I pray for the endurance to keep going. I pray over my stress, that it can be an opportunity for you to produce something greater in me and through me. In you, there is something greater: I will be complete and lack nothing. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 3:16-17
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
This post was written by Becca Roberts, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.