Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10
Ah stress, something we all probably know too well. Stress definitely can be a motivator for action or an emotion that can tear people and families apart. Stress is a very personal reaction; by this I mean, different things from the minor to the major affect all of us in completely different ways.
Many of the things we stress about are completely our fault because of sin or lack of planning. Many times, stress is because of other people’s lack of planning and sin. True character is exposed when we are under stress; as Christians how are we to handle stress? Can we make good come from it? Some of the most stressful times in my life have had joyous times after them because I endured and overcame. James and Matthew has some words for us below on this topic:
James 1:2-4 tells us:
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Matthew 6:25-34 tells us:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Being joyous in times of extreme trials is not always easy or even possible; but have faith and trust in God, let Him hold your heart and carry you through. In Matthew 25-34 above, Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. The effects of worry and stress can damage your health, disrupt your productivity, negatively affect the way you treat others, and reduce your ability to trust in God. Anything that drives a wedge between you and God, release it.
The difference between worry and having genuine concern; worry and stress immobilizes and damages you; concern moves you to take action. Release what is binding you today, release what is tugging at you and breaking you. What do you have control over? What do you not have control over? Take action if you need to, then put your faith and trust in God.
Worrying or stressing about something will not add one day to your life. Work on releasing, taking a breath, praying and lifting it up to God. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and May HIS will be done.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 33:16
Thanks for checking in and God Bless >>John
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