Are You Stressed?

Are you stressed? Depressed? Strained? Pained? Do you worry about things that may never come to pass? You are not alone. Polls have shown that three-fourths of men and women in America, Canada, and other industrialized countries feel stressed on a daily basis. This is a serious problem as stress can cause a wide variety of medical problems such as: lowered immunity, hair loss, ulcers, heart disease, and a host of other problems. Considering the obvious danger of being in a constant state of stress, what can one do to curb this ever growing problem? Some try pills, illegal narcotics, alcohol, cigarettes, and a host of other things which temporarily solve the problem but never fully solved anything. Why not take a different approach to your stress problem? There are certain things we should all remember when facing stress.

Remember that the future is just that. Often we look to the future with such fear that we forget the words of Christ. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34). There is never a need to worry about something that has not happened. There are times that we can sit and think of the worst case scenario of any situation. How often does the worst case scenario come to pass? More often than not, it only occurs in the mind. Man faces enough problems in his life without adding to the struggle by trying to think of new problems which could arise. Let us be willing to cross those bridges as they come, not while they are in the distance. Take things one day at a time.

Remember that we have someone with whom we can cast our cares/anxieties. Will man face problems in our lifetimes? Absolutely! Do we have someone with whom we can share these problems? Always. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care [anxieties – ASV] upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7). We face distracting anxieties which affect us on a daily basis. What do we do with them? Do we keep them bottled inside of us? Do we hold them in and refuse to “vent?” God does not want that! He wants us to bring those things up before Him. He wants them whether we consider them the “big problems” or the “little problems.” God want us to bring ALL of them to Him. Nothing is too big or small to God. Why? Simply, He cares about you. Literally, the meaning is that He is interested in YOU. He cares/loves you. He is concerned about your needs and wants you to bring them before Him.

Remember that worry never solves problems. “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” (Matthew 6:27). If one is anxious can those anxieties make him taller? Worry is never a productive thing and will never solve any problem we may have. Instead of letting those problems take control of life, why not take control of the problem and live a truly happy life?