Stress
By Tori Harris
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, stress is “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension.” The World Health Organization says it is “your body’s response to anything that requires attention or action.” We experience stress over a wide variety of things in our lives, from big changes to smaller things such as tests for school. Not all stress is necessarily bad. It can motivate and push us to do better and improve certain things about ourselves or the situations we are in, but too much stress becomes a problem and needs to be controlled.
Stress impacts us both physically and mentally. Symptoms include fear or worry, inability to relax, changes in mood, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, upset stomach, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, and social withdrawal.
How do we manage our stress? There are many things we can do, such as exercise, practicing mindfulness, or finding a relaxing or enjoyable hobby or activity. But what can we as Christians do? Did God give us anything in the Bible to help when we are struggling with stress?
One thing we can do is pray about it. James 5:16 says, “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” It can be easy to take it for granted, but prayer is an enormous blessing in our lives. Christians have the privilege of being able to cry out to our God at any time, knowing that He will hear us. Holding in things such as stress is not going to end well. If we hold onto things like that, it becomes easy for them to consume us. Sometimes, we just need to give it to God and let go. “Let go and let God” as the popular saying goes.
Reading comforting passages of Scripture also helps with stress. There are so many throughout the Bible, but a few are Hebrews 13:5-6; Psalm 46; Romans 8:28-39; I Peter 5:7; and Matthew 6:25-34.
One of the best things we can take part in is singing praises to our God. There is an abundance of hymns out there, and so many are great to singing during difficult times, because they remind us that God is in control, and what we should be focusing on. These include “In Christ Alone,” “Above All,” “Teach Me Lord to Wait,” and “I Am a Sheep.”
Also, do not forget to reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ. The church is a family, and the bond we share is closer than any other relationship on earth. We are to bear each other’s burdens, as Galatians 6:2 says. We are here to help each other. Sometimes when things are tough, we just need to talk to someone about what is going on. Our church family is always there to encourage us and pray for us, and we should be doing the same thing for them.
Finally, remember to keep things in perspective. Take a step back and examine things. What exactly are you stressed out about? How important is it in the grand scheme of things? Remember your purpose and focus on what we are here to do as Christians. Think on these words from Ecclesiastes 12:13- “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.”