Stress vs. Strength

In a late-night-hanging-out-in-the-kitchen talk with one of my adult sons, we began a discussion on the difference between doing things we believe the Lord wants us to do but striving, struggling, and stressing to make it happen in our own strength versus walking and working with Him as we go and doing the things He tells us to do along the way.

Oddly, those can look exactly the same on the outside but what is happening on the inside to the mind, the spirit, and the attitude is entirely different.

The first mindset says, “It’s all about the destination, which never seems to come” while the other says, “It’s all about the journey, which is always in the present.”

The first mindset says, “Hey, Jesus, watch me work!” while the other says, “Hey, look at Jesus’ work!”

The first mindset says, “Hey, why won’t you people recognize all that I’m doing for God!” while the other says, “Hey, why don’t we recognize all that Jesus has done for us!”

Both of these people are saved and going to Heaven, but one is going to know Jesus far better when he gets there.

Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. —1 Peter 5:7 TLB