For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Consider what’s stressing you out right now. In the moment, our stresses feel so big and all-consuming. We can easily slip into anxiety and hopelessness when we start to think about all the problems we are facing and the problems happening around us. Now, think about some of the stresses Jesus faced. Jesus was constantly under stress and faced life-threatening situations regularly. He had the most important job to do in bringing about redemption and little time to accomplish it. His support system on earth constantly misunderstood Him and easily betrayed Him. Yet, even with the circumstances that were less than ideal, He endured. He worked through the difficult situations instead of running from them.
When we face a stressful moment that makes our heart race or slip into anxiety that makes us fixate on the problems in front of us, we can look to Jesus. He not only worked through the most stressful moments of life but also gave us a clear path forward to deal with the stress, a path that leads into a life of joy with Him. This ability to work and endure such difficult challenges was not reserved for Jesus alone. He invites us to the same life He had, a life of surrender and running to the Father with the hurt, frustration, and anxieties that feel all-consuming. He has given us the Holy Spirit inside of us to help us have joy in difficulties and peace in chaotic circumstances. When the problems of life feel big, we need to consider Jesus—not just because He did the hard work but because He reminds us that we are not alone in our struggle and has given us everything we need to walk through it with Him.
- How have you dealt with your stress recently? What stressful things have felt all-consuming?
- What would it look like to consider Jesus in your moments of stress and anxiety? How would that change the way you handle those times?
- Pray and thank God for giving you a way to work through stress with Him.
