The room was filled with gamers, training to become better at their sport. Hooked up to sophisticated monitors, their reaction times were being measured. If they could improve their reaction times when given a stimulus, it might result in a better score.

Reaction time is important in many arenas. Gaming, athletics, medicine, aviation, and the armed forces all value the ability to respond quickly to changing circumstances. In these settings, fractions of a second can make a difference.

This is a worthwhile pursuit. Yet I could not help but wonder if there is something even more important than our reaction time. How do we respond? Life constantly presents us with stimuli. A harsh word from a spouse. An unexpected diagnosis. A financial setback. A betrayal by a friend. A promotion. Success. Failure. Praise. Criticism. The stimulus arrives instantly. Our response reveals what is already in our hearts.

Jesus taught that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). In other words, our responses are rarely created in the moment. They are exposed in the moment. Pressure does not create character as much as it reveals it. Many of us spend tremendous effort trying to control our circumstances. We wish difficult people would change. We hope painful situations would disappear. We want life to provide better stimuli.

But God is often doing a deeper work. He is less concerned with what happens to us than with what is happening within us. A delayed flight may reveal impatience. Criticism may reveal pride. Success may reveal self-reliance. Suffering may reveal where our trust truly rests. The event itself is often less important than the condition of the heart it uncovers.

James wrote:

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
James 1:19 (ESV)

Notice that James is not primarily giving a communication technique. He is describing a transformed heart. A heart that is no longer ruled by impulse. A heart that pauses before speaking. A heart that trusts God enough not to demand immediate control of every situation.

Charles Swindoll once said:

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.”

There is wisdom in those words. Yet the Christian might take it one step further. Our response is important because it reveals who we trust. Anyone can react. The follower of Christ is called to respond in a way that reflects the One who reigns over every circumstance.

The next time life presents an unexpected stimulus, resist the urge to measure your reaction time. Instead, examine your response. It may reveal far more than you expected.

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

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