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The Necessity of Stress

April 27, 2023

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The Biosphere II project was an innovative research tool for scientists to study earth’s living systems.  It provided a controlled environment for scientists to experiment with farming and innovation without damaging the planet.  One of the most surprising findings from the project was the role wind and rain played in the growth of trees. 

Scientists observed that trees inside the dome grew more rapidly than those outside.  They also fell over before reaching maturity.  Their findings show that the wind and rain are natural stressors that play the important role in the health and survival of trees.  These environmental factors help trees grow strong and more resilient, enabling them to withstand the challenges of their environment.

Wind provides physical stress to trees helping them develop a sturdy root system and grow, what scientists call, stress-wood.  Without stress-wood, a tree can grow quickly but cannot fully support itself.  The swaying and bending of branches and trunk from the wind stress strengthens the tree structure and encourages roots to grow in a different direction for anchoring and stability.  This results in a deeper root system that gives the tree the support it needs to thrive. 

Rain plays a significant role in the formation of stress-wood in trees as well.  A unique type of wood that develops in response to various environmental stressors.  As trees are exposed to heavy rainfall, they may experience excess water uptake which in turn affects their structural integrity.  This can lead to the development of stress-wood characterized by altered wood properties such as increased density and reduced elasticity.  This adaptive mechanism helps trees maintain their stability in the face of adverse weather conditions.  However, the formation of stress-wood can also impact trees’ overall growth patterns.  Sometimes resulting in asymmetrical or irregular shape.  As a result, it is crucial to understand the effects of wind and rain on trees to ensure their long-term health and resilience.

Wind and rain are necessary stressors for the health and survival of trees, promoting growth and resilience by strengthening roots and by helping trees withstand environmental challenges.  This relationship highlights the importance of stress in promoting growth and resilience in all living organisms.

Just as trees need a touch of wind and rain to remind them that they’re alive and growing, people need a dash of stress to keep their lives vibrant and developing.  Rather than avoiding stress, we need to turn into the wind to strengthen us for whatever comes our way.  As James tells us, trials and stress that comes with them are good for building perseverance, resilience, and character (James 2:17-24).

Too much stress can be overwhelming to us and cause us to shut down.  We need to learn how to handle stress in a way that leads to God.  Stress can have a significant impact on our spirituality and God’s ability to bless us with His Holy Spirit.  The effect of too much stress can hinder our understanding of the process of reconciliation with God in several ways.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).

By engaging in self-examination and self-awareness, practicing stress management techniques, seeking support from others, and taking care of our physical and emotional well-being, we can better understand and apply the steps involved in reconciling with God and growing in our relationship to Him.  To not do so hurts us in several ways.

First, when we are under stress, our minds can become closed off, making it difficult for us to hear the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.  This can prevent us from making the changes in our lives that are necessary for reconciliation with God.  Under stress, our human proclivity is to fall back on what we have always done rather than move forward into the growth that God intends for us.

Stress can also cloud our judgement.  When we are stressed, our emotions and thoughts can become overwhelming, making it difficult to concentrate and process information.  This can make it challenging to understand and apply the steps involved in reconciliation with God.

Thirdly, chronic stress can lead to negative thought patterns, making us more likely to reject the feedback and guidance that God is providing through His Holy Spirit.  Allowing our brains to fixate on stressful circumstances decreases the capacity of our brains to seek out and accept potentially more helpful thoughts.  Stress can make it difficult to listen.  Stress can make it difficult to focus, which can prevent us from fully listening and considering what we are being shown through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, it is important to understand that stress and bad habits can negatively impact our spiritual wellbeing and the ability to reconcile with God.  To overcome these obstacles and deepen our relationship with God, it is essential that we not only manage stress but also address negative habits that can hinder our spiritual growth.  This can include practices like procrastination, negative self-talk, and coping mechanisms like social media or alcohol.  By engaging in self-awareness and self-examination, we can identify and address these unhealthy habits leading to a greater understanding of God’s plan of reconciliation.

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5-6).

God works to guide, convict, renew, and teach us with the ultimate goal of restoring our relationship with Him.  The Bible reminds us to focus on God and His purpose rather than our own struggles and stresses and to put aside our worldly ways and allow God to change us from the inside.  In doing so, we can increase the positive effects of stress in our spirituality and deepen our connection to God through His Holy Spirit.

To increase the positive effects of stress on spirituality and to protect the mind with God’s Spirit, individuals can take the following steps through self-examination and self-awareness:  Engage in regular self-reflection.  Take the time to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and behavior and how they may be affecting your spiritual wellbeing.  Identify sources of stress and negative thought patterns that may be impacting your spiritual health.  Prioritize activities such as exercise, relaxation, such as spending time in nature which brings peace and relaxation to the mind and body.  Engage in spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, reading of scripture to deepen your connection to God and to promote feelings of peace and wellbeing. Also, practice gratitude by focusing on the blessings and the positive aspects of life.

By taking these steps, individuals can increase the positive effects of stress on their spirituality and can protect their mind’s connection with God’s Spirit, which will lead to improve wellbeing. Finding balance in our lives by incorporating these practices into our daily routine, we can develop healthy habits that promote both mental and physical wellbeing.

These practices also provide a valuable lesson on the importance of building a strong foundation in our faith.  The presence of God’s Spirit in our lives provides a powerful source of strength and protection as we face stressors and challenges. We are filled with God’s peace and comfort which can help us stay calm and centered even during difficult situations.

God’s Spirit can also give us wisdom and guidance as we navigate the challenges of life.  When we rely on God, we can make better decisions and find new ways of coping with stress and adversity.

Imagine a world without stress.  It would be like a tree living in a bubble. We all need a little wind and rain to stay strong.  People need a little stress to stay focused.  Without it, we would just be a bunch of unchallenged saplings.  Bring on the deadlines, tough conversations, and life’s little curve balls!

So, stress can be a challenge that helps us grow stronger both physically and spiritually.  In the same way that trees need stressors to develop a deep and sturdy root system, we too need stressors in our lives to develop a strong foundation in our faith.  When we face difficult situations, it can be tempting to give into our fear, worry, and doubt, focused on what is going on around us and inside us.  If we cling to our faith and look to the hope of the future God has blessed us with, we can grow into the potential that God created us to have.

Scott Brown

Filed Under: Prayer Tagged With: Anxiiety, Bad Habiits, Behavior, God, Holy Spirit, Judgemental, Meditation, Prayer, Relaxation, Self-Awareness, Self-Examination, Stress, Wellbeing, Wind and Rain

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