God - The Ultimate Stress Reducer

Today's society is caught up in so much noise and confusion. The day-to-day pressures and stress of life have had a profound effect on our families, friends, employment as well as the church. Our music is loud and thounderous. Our entertainment is explosive and sometimes destructive. 

Many have attempted to deal with this stress through various means including drugs, alcohol and even suicide. Many have resorted to psychologists, psychiatrists and even hypnosis. We've taken out our frustrations on our loved ones by means of physical, mental and emotional abuse. Stress is tearing us up from the inside out. How do we as Christians cope with stress?

One of the first things we can do is change our way of thinking. We should concentrate on things that have a calming affect. God has provided us, through nature, a built-in calming influence. The hills, the valleys, the streams and the lakes all can provide us with a means of relaxation. Listening to good soothing music or, for many, it's the hymns of the church that bring relief from stress. Prayer and fellowship with God while meditating on the promises in the Bible will do wonders for the Christian who faces stress. 

Many Christians suffer stress because they struggle with and fight against inevitable conditions. You know, there are some things in life we have absolutely no control over. There's nothing we can do to change the circumstances so why not change our outlook on them? Jesus conquered stress because He didn't fret about the difficult situations He encountered. Jesus rolled with the punches, as it were. He simply turned impossibilities into opportunities. What a difference His outlook was. We should attempt to do likewise. Sometimes we must accept situations we are powerless to change, doing our best with what we have and simply leave the rest to God. 

Too often, we fail to comfort others as we should. We get so wrapped up in our own selfish interests. We get to feeling sorry for ourselves. Jesus cared about the difficulties of others. He had compassion for others.  He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, unstopped deaf ears, made the lame to walk, cleansed the lepers and met the needs of those He came in contact with. Jesus set the example for us to follow. We should get involved in assisting others in their time of need and difficulty. Oftentimes, comforting others who are facing problems and difficulties will help to resolve our own complaints and bring joy and peace to our own lives.

Friend, if we are to overcome stress in our lives, we should be aware of God's presence in our lives at all times. Even though we don't always feel His presence, we know through faith He is always near to the believer. We are able to put our trust in God because He is not just a fair-weather friend. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble."

We ought to take God at His word! Let's stand on the promises of God and overcome this victory-stealing enemy we all face from time to time - stress.

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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