I was watching a video yesterday about why American kids don’t do as well in math as Japanese kids. The findings of the study were interesting, and all the data seemed to point to the fact that in American classrooms, kids suffered stress 2% of the time, but in Japanese classrooms, the kids were under stress 40% of the time, even to a degree where teachers would purposefully give wrong answers in math to test them. The conclusion of the author of the video was that stress is important for growth. Added pressure teaches people to operate well, and maximize their efforts. Following THAT video, was another where the author stated that it is in our stresses that we can learn to fully depend on Jesus. And then there was today.
This morning, my alarm didn’t go off. Let me rephrase that: my alarm didn’t go off on my smart alarm clock after confirming it would wake me up at 5:50; instead, my wife woke me up at 6:50! In ten minutes time, I got dressed (used deodorant and cologne), grabbed my Bible and what I needed for the day and got to my truck, only to realize my wife had a bunch of supplies for the church that I intended to pack into her car this morning. So, the boys and I took care of that. Then I got to church, stuff in hand, was reaching for my keys, and realized HER car key was latched to my belt loop. So, I dropped my stuff off at the office, turned back around, called her up and delivered the key to a waiting 7-year-old who insisted he loved me more than I loved him (that part wasn’t stressful, it made it so much better!).
And here I am, behind on my day. I DID get a quiet place to study my Bible, as no one is here at the office. I usually make it a point to study in front of the boys during school days, as I want to provide an example to them. As I’m writing this, I’m trying to finish my breakfast and beginning my first cup of coffee which is, thankfully, still hot after sitting on the Keurig for 20 minutes. I usually get this done, and have other things going by now, but I understand one thing: God works best in my stress because in those times I depend on Him the most.
Loved ones, I know stress is often looked down on, and, indeed IS (most of the time) a negative thing. We try to protect our students, kids, and grandkids from it (if applicable), but that pressure really makes us shine, doesn’t it? And it is there where we should always turn to God. It is where we feel those moments of pressure, persecution, stress, anguish, weariness, weakness, and other such emotionally draining times when God is most dominant in our minds because we’re forced to humble ourselves and ask for help. It’s these times that teach us how we should always live: dependent on the One who sent His Son to die for us. So don’t go looking for stress, but don’t guard against it either. Jesus didn’t shield Himself against stress, and every great man or woman of God in Scripture was great because in their moment of need, they turned to the Lord. Understand that God is waiting, especially in your stress. Trust Him.
Romans 8:19-39
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
