COPING WITH STRESS
Stress and coping with stress is a universal problem. Stress can be brought on by a negative event in our lives or a happy occasion. For example, we can experience anticipation beyond our control, when we are preparing for a new job or marriage. The place where we live, a large city for example, can induce high stress levels. Congestion, high noise levels, competition, worry and lack of self-control can all bring on increased stress.
We can experience stress in families and other relationships when we take our focus off God. Worrying about our physical or social needs being met can also lead us into a stressful condition. Very important things in our lives cause us to worry about their outcome. At times like this it is important that we realize that we must learn to reach outside ourselves and seek advice from good friends and be in faithful prayer to God.
Emotional upsets can lead to communication breakdown and cause people to become violent, use notallowed or alcohol. Stress can also lead (when out of control) to child abuse or even taking our own lives. In addition to emotional problems, stress can also cause physical ailments. In the medical profession it is well documented how stress induces heart attacks and elevates blood pressure, causes digestive problems, headaches and more. When we experience life and take everything personal, (such as comments from others) we may be setting ourselves up for stressful conditions, which can affect both our body and mind.
Perhaps we need to focus on our “spiritual therapy”, Reading God’s word on a daily basis, being in prayer several times a day and meditating on what God has done for us. And praise Him, for his goodness. Listening to Christian hymns can fill our minds with positive thoughts and actions and eliminate our negative mental tapes we play over and over again in our heads. In order to survive in this life we need God’s help and guidance through His spirit. We need both physical and spiritual strength to accomplish His plan for our lives. An example from the Old Testament is Elijah when he was being pursued by Jezebel. God instructed Elijah through an angel of the Lord, to rest and eat before he continued on his journey. (I Kings 19:1-9).
Knowing we are not in control of our lives reduces anxious feelings as we give control of our life to God where it belongs. (See Psalms 51:1-12) Knowing that our sinful ways cause us problems and that stress from these sins brings heartache and strife, we need a place to turn. God is always there for us. Anxious moments should be given over to God for His love and resolution. “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (I Peter 5:7). God should be our source of strength to bring us through the valleys and also appreciate the mountaintops when He lifts up our spirits.
Alone, we cannot survive the stress this world introduces. Through His Holy Spirit, God provides us with His prescription for stress in our lives. (Read Galatians 5:22-26). When we live a Christian life, we experience a positive direction, which takes us through the storms of life reducing stressful moments. (See Psalms 46:1-3, Luke 8:22-25). With God in our lives we can face life and its troubles knowing God will see us through anything this world could present to us. Through all, we need to remain positive, not from our own doing, but remain focused on God to lead us. Our thinking should be more like the mind of God. Only then, can we truly be positive in thought and action. (See Philippians 4:4-9).
We can rejoice knowing God is the most important person in our lives. Placing our stress in the hands of the “Living God” can bring about the peace that truly “transcends all understanding.” As we praise Him, for what he has already accomplished in our lives, we are blessed! We now realize God is bigger than our problems. He is the author of life and He determines the course of history and events in our lives. God does not want us to worry. Worrying is a sin. When we worry we are showing God we do not trust Him and are displaying weak faith. (See Matthew 6:25-34).
The apostle Paul suffered much in the hands of nonbelievers but his faith did not waiver. Like Paul we need to remember if God is for us who can be against us? With God’s strength we can withstand the stress of this world, and accomplish great things. (See Philippians 4:13).
I am unaware of who to thank for many of these thoughts from "Focus on Truth." I do know that I have had these same thoughts quite often and find comfort from helpful scriptures during such times as mentioned above. I have also mentioned to you in the past how helpful good music can be for soothing my mood.
When we do all we can to replace the negative with the positive we are moving in the right direction.
May you each experience stress reduction today.
Mike
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