Stress

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What are some of the dangers of stress?

NUMBERS 11:10-11, 13-15    Moses was...very aggravated. And Moses said to the LORD, "Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly?... What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people?... Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining me, saying, "Give us meat to eat!" I can't carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!"

2 CORINTHIANS 1:8    We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.

The intense demands of life have the potential to overwhelm you. The expectations, the criticism, the scope of the need and responsibility are threats to even the strongest person.

MATTHEW 13:22  The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life.

LUKE  10:40-41   Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said," Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me." But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!"

Stress can cause you to focus on the trivial and miss the important. As pressure squeezes your prospective inward, you lose the big picture. Preoccupation with the issue of the moment blinds you to what's really important.

How can I deal with stress?

2 CORINTHIANS 4:9   We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 

Keep going! Knowing that God is by your side during times of trouble and stress can help you to not give up.

PSALM 55:22   Give your burdens to LORD, and he will take care of you.

MATTHEW 11:28   Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

Bring your burdens to the Lord. Only he brings true peace of heart and mind. God's availability and promises provide effective stress reducers.

2 SAMUEL 22:7   In my distress I cried out to the LORD... He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached to his ears.

PSALM 86:7   I will call to you wheever I'm in trouble, and you will answer me.

Be persistent in prayer.

MARK 6:31   Jesus said, "Let's go off  by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostes didn't even have time to eat.

Take time to slow down and take a break from pressure packed situation.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20   Don't you realize that your bidy is the temple of the holy spirt, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must hornor God with your body.

Take care of your body. Adequate rest, regular exercise, and proper nutrition are essential to dealing effectively with stress.

GALATIANS 6:9   Let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the  right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.

Don't let your stress defeat you. When you are tired of doing good, you may be just too tired.

ISAIAH 41:10   Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Turn from fear and anxiety to faith and peace. God promise to supply the power to get you through the hard times.

Promise from God  JOHN 16:33   I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trails and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.