If a bridge were built that no one was allowed to cross than it is of no use. It is simply decoration or an exercise in engineering. However bridges are built for a reason, to be use. If nothing comes across the bridge, there is no stress and no wear and tear. However as soon as something comes across, there is a force which puts a strain on the bridge, stress.
Now, each bridge is built with a different weight load limit. Usually there is a sign posted. Let's say on a particular bridge there is a sign posting a load limit of 5000 pounds. If a bicycle crosses, the stress is imperceptible. However, if it is a 3000 pound car the stress is tolerable yet it does put wear on the bridge. If it is just one or two cars a day, no problem. If that increases to a constant flow of car traffic the wear and tear become more. Even within the weight load and frequency limit there is still maintenance that is going to be needed.
Now, if a 10,000 pound truck comes across the bridge the bridge may fail or at least be in need of major repair. So for the most part a truck heavier than the weight load limit is not allowed to go across a bridge.
Using this analogy to our lives, like the bridge we all want to be of use and we each have a different weight load limit. We each can handle a different amount of stress. So it is important to know what sign you need to put out each day (since we are people and not bridges, we change each day) and only let across what we can handle.
At the same time by putting in daily effort into building up our system; physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, we are regularly maintaining our bridge and with consistent effort we then are able to allow heavier loads to comes across with more frequency and it does not do damage.
When damage does occur we have the ability to shut down our bridge for repairs, or letting only necessary traffic across. In short, taking a break from being of use and healing ourselves so we can once again be of use.
In addition to the seen forces of the vehicles coming across a bridge there is also the unseen forces that are out of our control. The wind, rain, and perhaps the river below. A major flood can take down a sturdy bridge. The wind and rain can erode a bridge over time. Just like our lives there are many unseen forces that are not in our control.
So in the end, stress in unavoidable. We don't look to remove it from our lives. We work on building and maintaining ourselves, limiting the amount to what we can appropriately handle to deal with the controllable stresses of life. We can then trust and have faith we will have all the strength needed so we can handle those forces and stresses that are beyond our control.
