Thursday, September 12, 2024
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Fear and timidity can feel like an uninvited guest, banging on the door of your heart and mind. We would never let a stranger take over our home. So, why do we allow fear to take over our spirit? Fear feels natural in moments of uncertainty, but it’s not the inheritance we’ve received from God.
Through Jesus, we are empowered to rise above our stress. God has given us the strength to face our challenges head-on. When stress feels like it's too much, we can turn to God, trusting that his power will sustain us and give us the courage to move forward.
Stress makes us irritable, quick to snap at others, and retreat into isolation. But God has given us love—both to receive from him and extend to others. Love softens the sharp edges of stress. When we choose to approach our relationships with love instead of frustration, we honor God and strengthen our connections with him and others.
God has equipped us with his self-discipline. It helps us manage our emotions and respond thoughtfully, even when we’re under pressure. When stress threatens to overtake us, self-discipline allows us to take a step back, breathe, and approach the situation with wisdom and calmness.
Think of tools like a sharp saw or a sturdy hammer. When cared for, they work well, but when neglected—left to rust or dull—they can cause damage instead of helping. Similarly, if we don’t nurture the tools God has given us—power, love, and self-discipline—they can become ineffective, leading to harm rather than building healthy relationships.
Instead of taking your stress out on those around you, take it to God and ask him to refine and restore the tools he’s given you. Just as a craftsman sharpens and maintains his tools to work with precision, we too must allow God to keep our hearts sharp and aligned with his purpose. When we bring our stress to him, he renews our strength, revives our love, and restores our self-discipline.
God has equipped you with everything you need to overcome stress and handle it with grace. Through his strength, you can manage life’s pressures, build relationships that reflect his glory, and invite others into his peace.
Questions:
In what areas of your life are you relying on fear or timidity rather than trusting in the power, love, and self-discipline God has given you?
How can you better care for the spiritual tools God has provided to help you handle stress, so that they build up rather than damage your relationships?
Next Steps:
Today, take one specific stressor in your life and bring it to God in prayer. Ask him to help you use the tools of power, love, and self-discipline to approach the situation with his grace. As stressful situations arise, consciously choose to respond with these tools, trusting that God will guide you through them.
Join our text campaign to be Stronger than Stress—text WIN to 419-419-0707 and receive daily encouragement to stay grounded in God's strength!
Prayer:
God, I give my stress to you. Please refine the tools of power, love, and self-discipline that you have given me. Help me to use them today to handle my challenges with grace and to reflect your peace in all I do to everyone I encounter. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 3:16-17
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
This post was written by Monique Myers, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.