The Stress Factor

[Chad]

The Stress Factor - January 28, 2007

We hear it all the time, "I'm under a huge amount of stress!" What is the origin of this stress? What will be the results? The Bible can give us some helpful answers.

Jesus said, "Be on guard, that your heart may not be weighted down with ... the worries of life" (Luke 21:34). Now the human heart involves the mind and emotions which, in turn, affect our physical well-being. Jesus knew we can put all sorts of stress on our minds and emotions and bodies! We can do it with worry, anxiety, and fear! We worry about tomorrow! We worry over children! We are anxious about bills! Worry, worry, worry! It's self inflicted stress and it is sin! Listen again to Jesus, "Do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care of itself" (Matthew 6:34). Why does Jesus exhort us to avoid this self imposed stress? Simple! It can break us!

Even so, we human beings are skilled at imposing stress upon ourselves. For example, God gave us twenty-four hour days! We regularly try to stuff more into a day than the hours will permit. Then we worry ourselves sick over the work that has not been done. We need to learn to recognize this self imposed stress. We need to learn to back off. We need to learn to say, 'No!'

For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: [email protected]; or visit: Word for the Week

 

[ladylovesJesus]

How very true this is and it is good to be reminded that there are only 24 hours in a day and we need to prioritise those things that need to be done in the day. We need to use our time wisely.

 

[maciek]

Stress because we pretend to be almighty

I think the stress in modern man is so much because he is pretending to be almighty god and never allows God to be God in his life. Let us give our lives to God and God will plan it and do it. Spirituality is not just mere theory but way of living it. It is easy to preach spirituality but it is challenging to live it.

 

[Brigitte Njeri]

Most of the times I find myself worried about something,especially my future, these lines always comes to my mind "Stop worrying and Start trusting! For I am in control"
I have written this down so that I can always remember that.

Thank you Brother Chad for this post.

 

[Snowrose]

Hello Chad,

Thank you for this gentle reminder to put all our cares and worries into the hands of our Lord. We take too much upon ourselves - we should only take what He have given us to do and let Him take care of the rest. God bless you.

Best wishes,
Snowrose

 

[stephen]

I never considered that 'stress' would be an issue that I would have to deal with in my own life. I am mentally strong, and physically strong, (well used to be) and things were going well. So I thought.

But a situation affected me, and almost without warning I was without strength, and very insecure. This went on for some time, I suffered in silence. I saw horrible things when I went to my bed demons I believe. I was becoming a nervous wreck.

My wife, completely unaware of this (I did say that I considered myself above stress) said, well are we going to bed? I replied "I am afraid to go to bed"
"Whatever is the matter with you"? she replied. I told her.

She walked towards me as I sat in my chair, slapped me on the shoulder and said "You do not have to be like that!" It lifted immediately

I believe something had attached to me that was not of God. My wife broke the hold. This is my own experience of the torment of depression.

God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind" 2 Tim 1:7

 

[Fellowservant]

Amen brothers sisters, stress can be a burden we don't need to carry. All will be fine in the end, as Christ says God cares for even the birds...why not us. The lord will supply...

God bless

 

[HouseofJudah]

Hi chad,

Great post. I believe alot of the ailments we suffer are because of worry about the future. Society has made us believe that we must always worry about tomorrow and gaining material things that we are stressed when we cannot reach standards and levels set by the world. I love the example Jesus made, "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matt 6:26.

I thin it's a matter of not trusting GOD that we stress and not walking by faith but by site.