The stress of deadlines help us to organize and work efficiently (it’s supposed to). The problem lies when you have a five-hour report to write and only three hours to write it in. James says “Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.” We must face stress head on, otherwise, our world can be turned upside down. Take a moment to picture a ship in the middle of the ocean fighting against a raging storm with 100 foot waves. Even the best built ship can succumb to the waves and sink. A ship survives the storm by keeping its bow (the front end) pointing into the waves to plow through them safely. If one of these massive wave hits the ship’s side, it could cause the vessel to roll over and sink. It’s not only important for the ship to face the waves head on, but it must have the power to overcome the waves. Wind and waves will try to turn the vessel in different directions and pushing against the waves require forward momentum. Satan doesn’t just try frontal assaults. He tries to attack us from every direction possible and he’ll do everything he can to sink our faith. Not only does the ship need to point into the wave, but it needs enough power to steer through. Without the right amount of power, the wave could just push the ship around thereby sinking it. I’m not sure about you, but there’s a lot of spiritual application in this. It’s not only important for us to face trials, tribulations, stresses, head-on, but we must face them head-on with the power of Christ behind us. Without the power of Christ, we are dead in the water. Paul says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might
The stress of deadlines help us to organize and work efficiently (it’s supposed to). The problem lies when you have a five-hour report to write and only three hours to write it in. James says “Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.” We must face stress head on, otherwise, our world can be turned upside down. Take a moment to picture a ship in the middle of the ocean fighting against a raging storm with 100 foot waves. Even the best built ship can succumb to the waves and sink. A ship survives the storm by keeping its bow (the front end) pointing into the waves to plow through them safely. If one of these massive wave hits the ship’s side, it could cause the vessel to roll over and sink. It’s not only important for the ship to face the waves head on, but it must have the power to overcome the waves. Wind and waves will try to turn the vessel in different directions and pushing against the waves require forward momentum. Satan doesn’t just try frontal assaults. He tries to attack us from every direction possible and he’ll do everything he can to sink our faith. Not only does the ship need to point into the wave, but it needs enough power to steer through. Without the right amount of power, the wave could just push the ship around thereby sinking it. I’m not sure about you, but there’s a lot of spiritual application in this. It’s not only important for us to face trials, tribulations, stresses, head-on, but we must face them head-on with the power of Christ behind us. Without the power of Christ, we are dead in the water. Paul says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might