How do you handle stress? My workplace is about to close and it is the only place in town. That means almost everyone in this community will be affected; families, businesses, churches, employers and employees, After 15 years and not too far from retirement, we will have to sell our house, find a new job and move. My Dad is getting old and beginning to struggle with his health and mind. We are going to have to leave our friends behind and find a new church…once we find out where we will be living. There was a time when I would have been devastated by this news, but I feel at peace. Don’t get me wrong, I do feel stressed and some days more so than other days, but I also know God is in control; He has gotten me through tough situations before and I know that He will again. I have heard before somewhere that God sometimes calms the storm we are in, but other times He just helps us through it. I do not know what the future will bring, but we will be alright one way or another. All I can do is pray and leave it in God’s hands, search for jobs, wait and listen for God’s voice. We have our part to do; we can’t just sit back and expect God to hand us everything on a silver platter, but we can’t get wound up and stressed out or try to do everything on our own either. That is something I need to keep reminding myself. How do you handle stress?
Luke 12:22-29
Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.
Matthew 6:31-34
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Jesus tells us do not worry. God’s got this. Worry will not get you anywhere except more stressed out.
Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.
As believers, we can have joy in our hearts. We know that God is always with us and that we will spend eternity with Him. We have no reason to worry but to rejoice.
Philippians 4:4-8
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
So, how should we handle stress? Rejoice and focus on the good things. Pray and ask God for the things you need. Ask for wisdom in your circumstances. Have faith.
James 1:2-6
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
James 5:13-18
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
Remember that God’s grace is sufficient and He works all things together for good to those who love Him. Whatever we go through, He will get us through it.
My Daily Scriptures 