What Is the Biblical Difference between Good and Bad Stress?
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One might wonder what sort of example Lot and his wife had been setting throughout their daughters’ lives. Living in such a debauched society would have added even greater confusion. Paul wrote,
“Bad company corrupts good morals.” - 1 Corinthians 15:33
Now removed from such a corrupt society, Lot's daughters only needed time to think. It is always a miracle when someone from a dysfunctional background, faced with chaos and confusion, makes a wise and God-honoring decision. Yet, God demonstrates his love for us, redeeming the sins we commit under pressure, as he did with Peter.
Jesus’ ministry took a direction Peter was not expecting. He wanted the Messiah to be a warrior and believed Jesus’ talk of death was defeatist.
“Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” Matthew 16:22
Instead of reassuring Peter or thanking him for his encouragement, Jesus rebuked his disciple. “Get behind me, Satan!” (v.23). “Peter did not fully know what he was saying when he first declared that Jesus is the Messiah”, explained one writer. Jesus declared that he would have to die and be raised from the dead, which confused Peter. In fact, “at first this is unacceptable to Peter; he does not want a Messiah who is anything but a mighty ruler who leads Israel to an earthly victory.”
What happens when our own plans and ideals are overturned, and we see that God has something else in mind? Do we trust the Lord or turn aside? For a while, Peter turned aside. He even denied Jesus three times when put under pressure. (Luke 22) Was Jesus the Messiah? If so, then why was he dying on a cross? If Jesus was not the Christ, then Peter was not prepared to be arrested and crucified next to him.
By lovingly pursuing Peter after the resurrection, Jesus demonstrates that we are not excluded from his embrace; we are not rejected from the family of God when we stray. Peter’s story is a common one in this sense—Christians often walk away for a little while, deny Christ, or fail to declare him when placed under pressure.
Christ’s resurrection was a miracle on many levels. He defeated death and brought full restoration to sinners who desire to follow him. He came to Peter and told him to “feed my sheep.”
"Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It’s the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore."- John 21:17
Christians often fear that they will lose their salvation if they sin or that they will be saved grudgingly, as though the Lord would keep his promise but without love. Jesus reassured Peter that, although he had denied Jesus when placed under stress, he was forgiven and restored to a relationship with God. Christ’s forgiveness is bigger than we can imagine.
However, a redeemed relationship with the Father is costly because we recede and ask Christ to increase. Jesus told Peter the way he was going to die: “You will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (v.18). Redemption in Jesus replaces worldly stress with a burden for sharing the gospel and glorifying God, but also supplies us with powerful means by which to carry that burden and respond to the pressure of persecution which accompanies our devotion to Christ.
“The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” - Luke 12:12
Ruth’s response to the terrible strain of widowhood was to place herself under a different kind of pressure for the right reasons. She left her people to support Naomi, whose own people loved God. God rewarded Ruth’s integrity and courage by redeeming Lot’s daughters’ mistake, choosing Ruth - a Moabite - to become the ancestor of Jesus Christ. The rewards of her integrity give us a mere glimpse of those eternal rewards the Lord has in store for his people. This is not to say that integrity, patience, and focus on Jesus will protect us from stressful situations. But a fruitful spirit helps believers to discern God’s direction, his forgiveness, and his presence. Jesus sweated blood at the thought of his suffering. Stress is a reality for all of us at various points in our lives, but even Jesus prayed to the Father as he faced trial after trial, right to the end. We also are invited to ask for help.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28
Sources:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/bring-distress-jesus/
What Is Eustress and Why Is It Good for You? | Psychology Today
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/how-god-uses-stress-for-our-good-and-his-glory.html
https://www.stress.org/what-is-stress/
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/jesus-rebukes-peter
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Francisco Moreno
