Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one’s strength.
The dictionary describes stress happening to a person as “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.”
We have come to know that stress is a lot more damaging to the health of the human body, soul, and mind than previously thought. Stress is responsible for countless deadly ailments people are struggling with today worldwide.
Stressfulness in society is affecting people’s ability to sleep, digest foods, work efficiently, be at peace, and even get along with their neighbour. Things seem to be at the point of snapping when any extra stress comes along to weigh down the mind more than it already is. Every little thing can be blown up into a stressful situation because peace is eluding so many people. Psalm 2:1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
Stressfulness in society is affecting people’s ability to sleep, digest foods, work efficiently, be at peace, and even get along with their neighbour. Things seem to be at the point of snapping when any extra stress comes along to weigh down the mind more than it already is. Every little thing can be blown up into a stressful situation because peace is eluding so many people. Psalm 2:1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
I remember a conversation with my doctor after I had experienced a stroke three years ago. Apparently, stress was one of the main factors that caused the stroke. The doctor said, “You will have to get rid of stress in your life.” I said, “Really. What does that look like in my life?” The doctor was reading from a general menu of platitudes and suggestions for helping their patients; therefore, my question caught her off guard. She looked at me questioningly and I said again, “What does a stress-free life look like for me in my life? How do I go about getting it?” I went on to say, “Look at yourself. You have a small twitch under your eye and your left hand has a small tremor and you look overworked and fatigued. Shouldn’t you be following your own advice?” She began to laugh and I joined in the laughter because that was true medicine. Prov. 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one’s strength.
She let me pray with her so that she would also get a handle on life and her diagnoses of patients would be accurate. The reality was I had to learn how to get rid of the stress in my life. The medical industry can only suggest we become pro-active and do it ourselves or buy the many synthetic drugs available and waiting in abundance for anyone who wants them. I chose to do it holistically and so far, so good.
She let me pray with her so that she would also get a handle on life and her diagnoses of patients would be accurate. The reality was I had to learn how to get rid of the stress in my life. The medical industry can only suggest we become pro-active and do it ourselves or buy the many synthetic drugs available and waiting in abundance for anyone who wants them. I chose to do it holistically and so far, so good.
One of the natural prescriptions I found for a stress-free life is found in 1 Thes. 5:18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Gratefulness and thankfulness is a whole-life medicine that helps the entire body, soul, and spirit stay healed. Another thing I have tried to do is see the word stress as an acronym. ‘Stop Treating Regular Events So Seriously.’ Stop the madness so to speak. Take joy in the day we are in and be grateful for that day as tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Every generation has had to deal with stressful events. Whether it was the invading Vikings, Barbarian hoards, Church atrocities and inquisition, Spanish invaders, Nazi cruelties or fanatical Islamic insanity – there has been stress throughout world history. Eccl. 3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Everyone throughout time has had to learn how to de-stress or fall to the consequences of a life of debilitating stressed out fear.
God asks us to trust in Him for the peace that will eradicate stress in our lives. He admonishes us to look to Him and look for Him in a meaningful way. Jer. 29:18 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. The Lord directs us to keep our eyes looking heavenward, focused on the solution and expectation of receiving from Him the answers to overcoming stress. Psalm 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. Stress is a tool of the enemy of our soul. If the devil can get us focused on the problems in life, then stress will build up.
This is the medicine I have prescribed for myself and this prescription can be shared. Stop treating regular events so seriously and start giving thanks to God in all things. With His grace actively working in our lives, we will find the solutions we are looking for. Matt. 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Amen.
This is the medicine I have prescribed for myself and this prescription can be shared. Stop treating regular events so seriously and start giving thanks to God in all things. With His grace actively working in our lives, we will find the solutions we are looking for. Matt. 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Amen.
Hi miss Lisa. I woke up one morning and I heard the word stress then the acronym popped into my mind and thought, "Wow that is how to get healed." Stop Treating Regular Events So Seriously. The other thing I realized is, if we are under stress there is no joy or freedom to be thankful or grateful to God for anything because we are so distracted with stress. We end up going round and round toward sickness. May we all overcome needless stress. Bless you with a stress-free life:)
I have never heard that acronym!! What a wonderful and hopeful post to touch in on an epidemic of needless stress!