There is no one who is immune to stress. It cannot be avoided, so how can we manage it?

1 – The problem of stress

Stress is how your body responds to events. Our body can responds to pollen by giving us hay fever. There are many things that can cause stress in your body. It can be a death, finances, sickness, etc. The body responds by activating your nervous system and hormones are released. This is natural provided that we can keep things under control.

• We have to recognise the things that are bringing stress in your life.
• Recognise the things that we can change.
• Reduce those overreactions. We may not be able to cope and need to learn to calm down.

2 – The pressure of stress

To measure your stress according to the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, add up the number of “Life Change Units” that apply to events that you have experienced over the last year. The score that you receive will give you a rough estimate of how your stress affects your health.

• Physical pressure – It can cause wrinkles in your face or lead to heart disease. There is a link between stress and high blood pressure. Stress is one of those “silent” killers.
• Psychological pressure – When under stress we will fail to do something right that we normally can do easily. Stress can stop you from thinking clearly.
• Practical pressure – We can’t do practical things. Stress can take over. It can affect the everyday things that we can normally do.

3 – Ways of dealing with stress

There are a number of practical things you can do.

• Eat correctly.
• Exercise – even moderate exercise.
• Sleep.
• Learn to set limits. There are times you have to say “No!”
• Learn to choose your battles.
• You need to have an outlet. E.g. Reading.
• Learn how to relax – We often don’t even observe a day of rest. Stop or slow it down. Take a holiday and take it easy.
• Guard you thought life. Avoid those negative thoughts.
• Sort out those little problems in your life. Don’t let them grow up to be big problems.

4. The provisions for stress (vs. 31)

God can turn your stress into strength. God gives strength for your stress. We are to exchange our strength with God’s strength. See also 2 Corinthians 12:9; Isaiah 35:4; Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 4:13 and Colossians 1:11. What kind of power do you get?

• Serving power – See Psalm 27:14. We are to wait but this does not mean that we do absolutely nothing. We are waiting for God to meet our needs. We are serving the Lord and trying to please Him. Who is number one in your life? You can serve God in the midst of your trials.
• Soaring power – They will mount up with wings like eagles. An eagle looks forward to a storm because it allows him to soar higher and higher. He can fly above the storms. He can go faster because he can reach great heights. The storm is going on beneath him. God will lift you above your storm. You can glide and soar.
• Surging power – They will run and not be weary. Stress is not all bad. Stress can motivate us. It is too much that can harm us. When you exchange your strength for God’s strength then you can do things that are extraordinary.
• Staying power – They will walk and not faint. We don’t have to give up. Life is not a sprint but rather a marathon. We are to keep on walking through the storms of life. God will give us staying power. Don’t go up like a rocket and come down like a rock!

5. The stress busters

There are three:-

• Celebrate God’s presence – See Psalm 145:13. God is with you in the midst of your stress.
• Appropriate God’s power – You are not alone. The power of Almighty God that raised Jesus from the dead and created the Universe is with you. See Psalm 33:6.
• Meditate of Gods’ promises – How can this stress not be changed into strength. God has got promises for you in His Word. See Deuteronomy 33:27 & Psalm 63:8. We are not to be spiritual wimps. We can’t let stress kill our joy. Satan is a liar and we can’t let him take our joy from the Lord. We are take the strength of God and be strong in our lives. The road is not easy but God is not lacking in power.

Categories: Isaiah