Stress used to be a state to be avoided, reduced, or managed. It was bad, and I needed to eliminate it from my life. Gradually, I came to understand that life has both good and bad stress and that it’s not about avoiding stress but about balancing it and developing resilience.

Balance stress – good and bad – with rest throughout the day and enough sleep every night. Make sleep a priority. Pursue it relentlessly. Get a doctor’s help if necessary. Develop and maintain strength mentally and physically to be better adapted to handle the stress that comes your way. Above all, pursue time with God. Make a relationship with him the foundation of your resilience strategy.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will give you new strength and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Absence of stress produces stagnancy at best but, most likely, a slow death. While not necessarily embracing stress, realize that it’s not the enemy. Let stress (i.e., trials) lead you to the one who gives bountiful resiliency.