Dealing With Stress God's Way

Hey ladies, I hope you are enjoying the lovely start of fall 2016! October is here and I am sitting here in my family room with the window open and listening to the trees blowing in the breeze outside. I love that sound and I love fall! 

My family has been going through so many transitions this past year it has been a challenge for me to keep up which is why blogging was low on the totem pole! I truly don't know how other mom bloggers can just keep blogging through renovations and life mayhem but my hat is off to them. I guess just different personalities have different strengths. 

For me it takes me time to adjust to transitions and changes and upheaval. As an introvert I'm energized by quiet alone time and lots of mental processing. I like to figure out where I am, what I think about it, how to process what is happening, etc. 

So I thought I'd talk a little about stress.

There are so many things that we, as women, are juggling at any given time — our husbands, children, homes, finances, schedules, church commitments, school, housekeeping, errands, grocery shopping, meal preparations, cleaning, hospitality. Sometimes they can pile up on us and crush us. Sometimes it feels like we are hurrying all. the. time. Just to keep up. 

Hurrying has sadly become the American way. Once in a while it's not a problem, but hurrying as a lifestyle is a problem because it increases our stress levels. And stress is a killer. Stress causes anxiety, sleep disturbance, fear, worry, disease and death. 

God has made himself perfectly clear in Scripture that we are NOT to be full of worry and stress. Since stress and anxiety start in the mind, that is where the battle must be fought. When we read and meditate on God's words, we are renewing our minds.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

So what is Jesus' yoke that we need to take upon us? A yoke is a coupling traditionally used to keep two plow animals working and walking in unison. So when we take Jesus' yoke upon us, we are literally coupling ourselves to him. And that makes it very easy to walk with him. And when we are yoked with the Prince of Peace, the burden is light — not heavy and stressful!

Our attitude determines how we act and interact with everyone — our husband, children, neighbors, friends and community. Attitude truly affects everyone in our life.  And worry is like walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain. Which is pretty ridiculous.

There are a LOT of wives and mothers who are completely stressed out right now. They may not always act like it, they won't always admit it. But they are freaking out inside. It is really something when we come across someone who is peaceful and of good cheer. It begs the question of why, doesn't it? That is an opportunity to share the love and transforming power of Jesus Christ with those stressed out around us. 

If we are trusting God, whom shall we fear? We don't need to be "full of care" when we are yoked with the Prince of Peace.  

God's word gives us so much to think about. When we meditate on God's word, live his reality and walk with him, His peace washes over us. 

And in turn our hearts will be steady, our minds will be clear and our homes will be happier. 


Philippians 4:6-7, says Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

Psalms 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  

1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Luke 6:48 - He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

Psalms 34:17-19 - The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.   

1 Corinthians 14:1-40 - Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.   

Psalms 119:71 - It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 

1 Corinthians 14:33 - For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

So the next time stress, worry and anxiety comes knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus, it's for you"! 

Have a blessed day in Christ!

Comments

Courtney Downs said…
Welcome back to Blogland! :) :)
DeNiece Barnes said…
Welcome back....you were missed.
Thank you ladies! :-)

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