Stress is a dangerous thing. Unfortunately, it’s an unavoidable part of life. Stress starts early in life, and it seems like our stressors only grow in their intensity the older we get. It’s possible to become so focused on the things that leave us feeling stressed that we fail to acknowledge all of the blessings in our lives. That’s not God’s design for His people. While stress is unavoidable, there are things we can do to make sure that it’s not the driving force in our lives.
Stress is a dangerous thing. Unfortunately, it’s an unavoidable part of life. Stress starts early in life, and it seems like our stressors only grow in their intensity the older we get. It’s possible to become so focused on the things that leave us feeling stressed that we fail to acknowledge all of the blessings in our lives. That’s not God’s design for His people. While stress is unavoidable, there are things we can do to make sure that it’s not the driving force in our lives.
Have you ever seen coffee cups, bumper stickers, and shirts that say, “I’m too blessed to be stressed”? While it’s certainly a catchy slogan, let’s be honest about something: the people who are sporting that adage probably don’t even mean it. Everyone deals with stress in their lives. In fact, there are multiple recent studies that indicate that “too blessed to be stressed” is really nothing more than a catchy slogan.
According to the American Psychological Association, roughly 60% of Americans currently say that they are stressed about the problems that they face both personally, and when they think about the problems going on in our nation. Another study, published by The Recovery Village indicates that 33% of Americans acknowledge that they deal with extreme stress. 77% of those surveyed say that their stress has a negative impact on their physical health while 73% admit that their stress negatively impacts their mental health. Finally, 48% of Americans say that they have trouble sleeping at night because of the amount of stress in their lives.
Stress isn’t saved for the adults. 80% of high school students in the United States say that they endure stress related to life, school, and everything else. Stress impacts us from our youth into our adulthood.
God’s children know that we are blessed. We can read His Word, take a look at our own lives, we know that we’re blessed. However, it’s easy to let the dark clouds of stress prevent us from seeing the bright light of God’s blessings in our lives.
How can we shift our focus? The things that cause us stress aren’t going to go away. However, a change in the way that we look at things can help ensure that we aren’t too stressed to be blessed.
Jesus, Take the Wheel
Matthew 11:28-30 (TPT)
“Are you weary and carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mind. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”
None of us can totally erase stressors from our lives. Work obligations, family responsibilities, and any other number of things can lead to great amounts of stress. The weight that is caused by this stress is incredibly heavy and is often too much for one person to bear on their own. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula that we can use to completely erase stress from our lives. However, we don’t have to let stress be the driving force in our lives.
Stress is a natural human emotion, which means that God put it in us. However, stress was meant to be a natural reaction to situations that our brain views as dangerous. The issue with stress isn’t that it’s present. Instead, the issue with stress is found in the amount of control that we give it over our lives.
In the same way that you have to water a plant to make it grow, stress grows when we allow it to have more control in our lives. Instead of letting stress be the driving force in our lives, we can move past it by allowing Christ, through the presence of the Holy Spirit to be the driving force.
In the verses we just read, Jesus said that turning over control of our lives to Him leads to an easier life to live. While stress can leave us dealing with heaviness, a life committed to Christ is lighter and easier to bear. Why? Because you’re not the one bearing it. Stress is anything but pleasant, but when we allow Christ to drive our lives, He doesn’t require anything unpleasant at all.
Where is Your Mind?
Philippians 4:8-9 (TPT)
So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things.
These two verses that Paul wrote to the Philippian church could serve as a roadmap for overcoming stress. Within these verses, Paul tells us the kind of things that we can keep our minds focused on in our effort to overcome stress.
If you look up the word “stress” in Webster’s Dictionary, one of the first definitions you’ll see is “to be drawn tight.” That’s a pretty good definition of the way that stress makes us feel internally. Stress, which is clearly an emotional element, produces several physical manifestations. Stress may lead to muscle spasms, headaches, shortness of breath, chest pain, and other physical issues. Stress leaves us feeling like we’re being “drawn tight.”
However, if we keep our mind primarily focused on the things of God, those feelings of stress are less prevalent. While you may say that you’re a good multitasker, the fact remains that your brain cannot intently focus on more than one thing at a time. For instance, if you’re attentively reading this, you’re not intently focused on the other things going on around you. If you’re primarily focused on the things going on around you, you’re not intently reading this.
In the same vein, you cannot be completely focused on the stressors in your life and the things of God. This doesn’t mean that you ignore your responsibilities and other causes of stress in your life. Instead, it means that your primary focus is on things that are good, pure, holy, and admirable. In essence, the attributes of God and His blessings in your life should be our main focus. When that’s the case, we can allow our minds to rest from stress.
Cutting Off Stress’ Power in Your Life
1 Peter 5:7 (TPT)
Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.
It’s unfortunate to say, but there are times where we wear our stress like a badge of honor. We think that being stressed about work, family, housework, money, and other areas make us seem more important to those around us. Instead, referring to stress as your primary emotion is giving stress more power than it was ever intended to have.
When a fire grows out of control, one of the primary elements that keeps fueling the fire is oxygen. That’s why if you put a glass over a candle, the flame quickly dies out. It’s simply not able to receive the power that it needs to continue to burn. In the same vein, we have to be able to recognize what is fueling our stress and cut off its power supply.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you quit your job because it’s a source of stress. However, if your job is causing so much stress that it’s damaging your relationships with your friends and family, it may mean that you start looking for something else. It doesn’t mean that you stop letting your children take part in after-school activities because their schedule is causing you stress. However, it may mean that you have a family meeting where your children need to pick one or two activities that they’re passionate about and focus on those.
Only you have the ability to determine what is powering the stress in your life. In the same vein, only you can take the steps necessary to make the changes necessary. One of the best ways to do this is found in Peter’s admonishment that we take the sources of our stress to God and leave them with Him. When we allow Him to direct our steps in his tender care, He can show us areas in our life where we can cut back on stress and reduce its power in our lives.
A Closing Prayer:
God, I don’t want to be “drawn tight” all the time. Instead, I want to be more focused on You and the things that you’re doing in my life. Help me to take a healthy approach to my stress so I can be a better version of myself. In Christ’s name, Amen