STRESS

“STRESS” –

“…mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium…”

(read - external factors that throws life out of balance)

Or how about the word - ANXIETY –

“…an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it…”

    Not fun words are they – in fact just talking about stress and anxiety may cause a little of both.      Stress and anxiety are something that we ALL deal with at some time or another – no one is immune. Stress and anxiety are an internal state of being brought on by external forces or circumstances (sometimes by perceived circumstances that haven’t even happened yet)…

     Stress and anxiety are deadly, it can cause muscle aches, migraines, ulcers, mental breakdown and even heart attacks. They cause us to see life through filters. We might see through a filter of fear, maybe one of hate or maybe even a reality that isn’t really real. But whatever the cause it can affect us mentally, physically, socially and worst of all (to me) spiritually.

     Stress and anxiety can cause us to doubt ourselves – to doubt our beliefs – to doubt our faith and yes, even to doubt God sometimes. It may be hard for some to admit that,  but you only have to look as far as the Old Testament to see that the “heroes” of our faith stressed out at times too.

      Abraham – while we don’t normally like to see it you have to imagine that as he walked to sacrifice Isaac his heart would have pounded in his chest… what would he tell Sarah, could he go through with it…

     Moses – as he ran for his life because he killed a man, when he had to go home and tell his wife that he had just met face to face with God and that they were going to leave the farm and head to Egypt.

     Joshua – when Moses died and he was supposed to take Moses’ place.

     Nehemiah – when he knew that he had to travel home and repair Jerusalem, then some supposed friends threatened him.

     Job – after all he went through and his friends said it was all “his fault”, his wife told him to curse God and Job just wanted to die and get it over with.

 Even in the New Testament –

     All the disciples – running scared the night Jesus was tried and crucified, hiding in a room for fear that they would be next.

     Mary – standing at the foot of the cross watching her first born being killed for (in her mind) no reason.

     Paul and Silas – stuck in jail, beaten just because they wouldn’t quit telling others about Jesus.

     John – trapped on the island of Patmos left to die just because he too wouldn’t stop telling others about Christ.

 These folks were not different than you and me…they faced every day trials and tribulations, they faced failed relationships, work related stress, family problems, tax issues, religious persecution, money problems, health problems, legal problems, even obedience problems… it is easy for us to forget that they were real humans too.

They were though; they had failures and worries as well as stress and anxiety in their lives.

 And if God could help them through – well, even more – if God could use them through it all then maybe He can/will do it for Christians today. He won’t make the external forces or circumstances necessarily go away but He can/will steady the internal life.

He even warns us about stress, anxiety and worry – and then tells us what to do…

 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7 

 "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life…   "And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?”… "Do not be anxious then...”  "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”   Matthew 6:25, 27, 3, 34

 You cannot make the external forces go away, you cannot make the troubles evaporate – Jesus even confirmed that – “…In the world you will have tribulation…” (troubles) John 16:33b

     I will admit that I have read this before and said to my self – “Oh, great!” but we have to continue on to the rest of what He tells us -

     “…but take courage; I have overcome the world."  John 16:33b

 And Paul would say later – “Be anxious for nothing, BUT in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Philippians 4:6 

 Yes, I know what it says – don’t be anxious, don’t stress – but we do anyway don’t we? Maybe that is why God was so clear in amongst these verses to keep saying… “I will take care of you!” Because He knows how we are…

 Take every situation – work, family, circumstances, relationships, finances, etc. etc… - take it to God in prayer – tell Him what that you need the strength to get through something particular (He cares about the particulars you know) – tell Him that you need guidance in a situation, direction and composure to overcome an external force that is putting pressure on you right now… He will listen, He will answer.

 I won’t promise that you won’t have some muscle tension, some headaches (Why? Because your humans and you’re going to anyway)… But I can tell you that if you put your heart, mind and soul into your faith and into trusting God’s promises you can overcome those external forces and circumstances and in the process you might find that the ulcers go away, the headache subsides, the heartbeat slows down – because Jesus said that He had overcome the world – and you can too!

 So let’s get real –

 I am praying for you…

 DOUG