Dealing With Stress (2)

In what areas am I particularly vulnerable to allowing stress and anxiety in my life? What are healthy ways of dealing with stress?

When we are under stress we should try looking at our situation with a telescope, rather than under a microscope. All too often, we greatly magnify our troubles, and in so doing, increase their pressure. Instead, we need to remember that God knows the end from the beginning and will provide all of our requirements for today.  We need to allow past events and hurts to go and concentrate only on today's problems, thanking God for His grace as He sustains us.  “This too shall pass” is a helpful principle to remember. God promises us love and strength sufficient for each day. Even in a day of trouble we will get through, get the rest we need, and face the next new day with new resources.  Good days will return!

The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.  I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:22-24 NLT)

God will never permit circumstances to break or shatter us. He knows our frame and will not allow us to be overloaded beyond what we can bear. Rather, He seeks to use our stressful times as opportunities for us to gain His perspective, lean on His strength, and develop steadfastness with which we can run life's course.  God may not change the circumstance that is pressing on us.   He may not remove the person who bothers us greatly.   He may not heal the affliction that daily grates away at our body and soul. But God will dramatically alter our own emotions and responses as we turn to Him instead of running or exploding.  As we trust in God’s power and wisdom to actually support us and show us new solutions, we gain new spiritual maturity and hardiness of spirit.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT)

Satan may drive us to breaking point as he tries to deceive us into thinking we can, or must, handle our stress in our own ability and cleverness. The key to handling stress is to lean on God’s power at the initial stage of any problem. God's strength comes as He stabilizes our emotions with His peace, infuses our hearts with His joy, and provides us with His all-sufficient wisdom to deal with any hardship in life.

Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.  I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. (Psalm 63:7-8; Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT)