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Faith is the Cure for Stress
“Since He did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t He also surely give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32 TLB).
The major cause of stress in your life is worry. Worry is a sign that we do not have faith in God to meet our needs.
Worry can come from three sources:
1) Ourselves- We worry about our ability to survive tomorrow and neglect the blessing of today. Matthew 6:26-27 teaches us, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
2) Society- We worry about our ability to keep up with the neighbors. “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).
3) The enemy – The devil plants worry and doubt in our minds through any means necessary (television, music, dreams, etc.). “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
We all have stress and anxiety. I think what is important is how we deal with that stress. A little bit is natural and no problem. It can be helpful and protect us from dangerous situations. But when chronic stress is experienced, the body makes more of a drug known as cortisol than it has a chance to release. And that is a bad thing. Because stress can kill brain cells and even reduce the size of the brain. Chronic stress has a shrinking effect on the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning. And yes, sadly, stress can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and death. I have seen people consumed by stress and you probably have too.
If you want a cure for stress, learn to look to God to meet your needs. We should never put your security in anything that can be taken away. We can lose a job, health, spouse, but you cannot lose your relationship with Christ. These are all fine but can all be destroyed. God certainly wants us to have a good job, health, and family. However, if our identity is based on these things then that is bad because of the fragile nature of anything earthly. The Word teaches us in Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Every time you start to get stressed out, pause and say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). God has promised in the Scriptures that he will meet your needs. We honor that promise when we walk with Him in faith.
Prayer: Dear good and gracious God, we are your children. We know you love us. Help us to walk with you in faith. As the anxiety leaves our souls, we ask you to fill the void with your grace and love. We long for a peace that transcends all understanding. Amen.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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