In the hustle and bustle of our fast-paced lives, stress has become an unwelcome companion for many. The World Health Organization defines stress as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. The pressure from work, relationships, school, and the uncertainties of life can weigh heavily on our hearts and minds. As Christians, we are not immune to stress. The Lord never promised a world without strife, but instead peace during the storm.
Personally, a lot of my stress comes from not being able to manage a situation. If I can understand what’s needed and provide it, then I am in control. If not, it’s “the end of the world”. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a reminder that this exact philosophy is probably why I’m stressed.
Give your stress to God
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Surrendering our worries to God and acknowledging His sovereignty allows us to release the burden of stress into His capable hands. But, like most things, this is easier said than done. How do I release anything when I’ve only ever practiced holding it? Through therapy, I’m learning one way to find my relief that I would recommend you try. List all the worst-case scenarios and deal with them one by one. It allowed me to realize that everything can go wrong a million and one ways, and surprisingly, it was what I needed to release the situations and associated pressure. How can we truly control everything if there is always a new way for things to go wrong that we didn’t or couldn’t expect? We can’t and with that, we relinquish everything to him who does control everything.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Give facts to your worry
I’m sure you’ve thought, “Okay, I trust the Lord, but what if [insert situation that you didn’t want] happens.” I would love for the remedy to those stress-driven thoughts to be “Stop obsessing,” but unfortunately, that doesn’t work. The answer is to give facts to your worry to find your relief. The Bible is filled with promises that serve as beacons of hope in times of stress.
Psalm 55:22 reminds us, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
If He will never let the righteous be shaken, then whatever you wanted to happen that didn’t, wasn’t part of the plan to steady you in this life. It would have shaken you. When we remember that, we learn, though it may be difficult, to let go of the expected outcomes that were causing us stress and instead embrace the peace of our Lord.
Relying on your community during times of stress
Alright, so we started being under pressure, and it accumulated to cause stress. We found some relief by submitting, stopping our anxiousness, and casting our cares on the Lord. Is that all? No. We need to rely on our community when we feel our stress is becoming overwhelming. We can delegate tasks to other people, ask for advice on handling the situation, or just have a listening ear.
Galatians 6:2 encourages us to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Also, a daily routine allows us the mental space to know that we will have an allotted time to handle what we can and, after that, move on to the next task. Sleep is important in rejuvenating your mind and body, allowing you to rest from the stress you had the day before and the energy to tackle any stressful situations that are coming up. Self-care is another big one for managing stress. It includes eating healthy, exercising, and making time for activities you enjoy. When your body has the tools to succeed, you will find that any situation putting pressure on you can become manageable. Lastly, this daily de-stressing planner requires you to stop and think about the things that are stressing you out and why.
Digging deeper into the specifics of our stressors allows us to realize that some pieces of our stress are unwarranted, but we don’t see that because we are wrapped up in the feeling of stress. Ultimately, I hope these verses, and tools lead you to destress effectively.
Are there any other tools that you use to help you relieve stress? Let us know in the comments down below!
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What a thoughtful and insightful reflection on managing stress through faith and practical strategies, Sariane! The intertwining of biblical wisdom with therapeutic techniques like listing worst-case scenarios offers a holistic approach to surrendering our worries to God. I particularly resonate with the idea of relying on community during times of stress, as shared burdens often become lighter when carried together. Thank you for sharing these valuable insights and encouraging us to explore additional tools for stress relief.
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