I AM GROWTH

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4

Stress is just an opportunity to better myself.

Have you ever stopped to think about what you can learn from Stress? Or are you too busy experiencing it to process it? The one thing I have come to learn about every stressful situation I’ve been in is that it makes me feel like I don’t have any control over the situation. Now, last week we affirmed that we are in control, and because we’re taking back that control we have to see Stress for what it can be instead of what it has been: a chance to grow. James 1:3 says that “when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” Endurance: the power to bear an uncomfortable situation without breaking. Tolerance. Fortitude. Stress is merely pressure on your endurance.

I found myself in a stressful situation recently, where my character was being tested as I dealt with people tolerating me instead of talking to me. It was really turning into a situation for me where I didn’t know if I could endure working in certain spaces because I don’t want to be tolerated by people I like. I was preparing myself for the comfortable approach to that type of Stress: fleeing. I don’t like to stay places I’m not wanted so I was ready to sit so many things down if it meant not being tolerated. Instead, I took control of the Stress and asked myself how could I grow in this moment? What can I take from this to elevate me to the next level? I talked about it with close friends, prayed about it, and waited for the opportunity to repair to present itself. When that opportunity came, I spoke calmly, explained myself and my positioning, listened to the other person, and came to a place of better understanding with them. I took the opportunity to better myself and grow.

Growth is about becoming a better endurer, not a better stresser.

You, too, can grow from Stress. You can embody and embrace growth in more than just stressful situations, but especially in stressful situations. Take the opportunity to assess and figure out how you can benefit from strengthening your endurance. Develop alternate ways to respond to stressors than your norm, talk about possible solutions with trusted individuals, give yourself grace when you fall short so enduring doesn’t have to seem impossible, and remember that practice makes perfect and you’re not going to get this right immediately. The scripture also says “when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:4) Give yourself time to get there, because once you arrive at fully developed endurance? Stress will be just another emotion taking it’s turn and moving around. I love you, and I’m always rooting for you. Keep conquering daily!