Should Christians expect stress in life?

John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Jesus warned us to expect stress. He was no stranger to stress. This world is filled with trials and sorrows that will generate stress in our lives, but we can take comfort that those stressors can never take away our eternal victory.

Romans 8:18What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

James 1:12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

1 Peter 1:6-7So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

A faith that has never suffered stress is a faith that has never been truly tested. Testing and trials are uncomfortable, even painful, but those times of testing often bear the greatest fruit in our lives.

John 14:27-29“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Hebrews 12:1-3Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

The peace Jesus offers does not eliminate all stress. Jesus endured so much stress that his sweat became like drops of blood (known to modern science as hematohidrosis). He was well aware of terrible pain he would go through. However, Jesus approached the cross with calmness and clarity because he knew where it would lead in the end. We, too, can have that peace.

Philippians 4:6-7Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Even in times of stress, we can be thankful. We have a God who listens and acts. Nothing is too small for him to care about, and nothing is too large for him to handle.