What are You Doing with Your Stress?
John Osborne
Life is full of challenges and stressors. Some have said that we live in a pressure cooker. Others have commented that people are at a boiling point and living on edge. No matter how you view it, the consensus appears to be that life is fast paced, and full of anxious and unsettled people. The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that nearly 75% of adults experience moderate to high levels of stress on a regular basis. That statistic alone should give us reason to contemplate and ask some reflective questions, like, “How am I managing stress?” or, “Is stress having a negative impact on my sleeping habits, my relationships, my mental and physical health?“
There are some practical steps that all of us need to do, but let’s first look to apply some scripture to our approach. Here are a few.
1 - James 1:5 tells us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Before taking matters into our own hands and making changes that may or may not be necessary, why not ask God for some help? This may lead us to eliminating some activities, changing our schedule, or any variety of things, but why not ask God to begin with?
2 - Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I have found in my own life that as I go to God in prayer, in the midst of being stressed, when I approach God with a thankful heart for who He is and how faithful He has been, my worries and anxieties diminish. We serve a big God and no matter how big our challenge, our God is bigger.
3 - 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” When I read this verse, I picture a fisherman with a fishing rod. He is standing on the shoreline. Most of us have a natural tendency to cast our anxieties towards God, but then to reel them back in towards us. The emphasis in this verse needs to be on God. If He can bear the weight of our sin, He can bear our cares and anxieties.
4 - Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This is supernatural. Yes, we play a role, as God directs us, to minimize or manage what stress we can, but God is able to give us a restful mind and spirit.
My prayer is that in the midst of all of your challenges you will not feel stressed or overwhelmed. If you do, know that there is hope. We can face every day knowing that God is not surprised by anything. We can be confident that God loves us and will never leave us nor forsake us. We can lean on Him for peace and rest.