Welcome Challenges
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
We can welcome challenges and trials of many kinds, but it’s proper to mourn tragedies and endure a season of grieving. Many times in serving the Lord we face challenges that may seem overwhelming and fearful. Your attitude toward the trials can make a big difference in your motivation to serve the Lord. You can welcome the challenge knowing the Lord will guide you through in his love, wisdom, and strength, or you can fear the challenge if you approach it in your own strength and wisdom.
The way we view a stressful challenge can affect how we handle these situations. Dr. Caroline Leaf states in her book titled Think Learn Succeed, “If you face a difficult situation with a “glass half full” attitude, the blood vessels around your heart dilate. Increased blood flow results in increased oxygen flowing to your brain, which, in turn, increases your cognitive fluency and clarity of thought–that is, your ability to not only face a challenge but overcome it. This increased blood flow also balances the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, allowing a number of neurophysiological and genetic processes to work for you, fueling intellectual growth.”1 Accepting a challenge with a confident faith makes us better equipped mentally and leads to intellectual growth.
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you (Psalm 9:10). Whatever stressful challenge you are facing, the Lord will guide you through with his love, strength and wisdom. Trusting the Lord is the key to overcoming challenges, because all things are possible for God. Putting your faith in the Lord will decrease your fear and worry and increase your confidence. So measure your faith by your level of fear; the less fear you have the more faith you will have.
Viewing a stressful challenge with a confident attitude will enhance your ability to endure and overcome, and will lead to better health and happiness. Having a negative doubtful attitude will hinder your cognitive ability and decrease your physical motivation and energy. In other words, fear induced stress can harm us both mentally and physically, possibly bringing depression and anger.
Today face all challenges with an attitude of victory in Christ, knowing that all things are possible for God. This attitude will carry you through any situation in life. A victorious attitude that trusts the Lord is a pleasing attitude to the Father and the Son. The Lord blesses those who trust him and depend on him to guide them through life.
Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to accept all challenges with an attitude of victory. Guide me step by step and give me the patience needed to walk in victory. Let my love and faith grow daily. In Jesus name, Amen
- Leaf, Dr. Caroline, Think, Learn and Succeed, Grand Rapids, Baker Books, Mich. 2018, page 95