Monday, September 9, 2024
People who obey the speed limit stress me out! Why? Because I’m always running late, and they're in my way! Obviously, I’m the one to blame here, but stress happens.
*Statistically speaking, we’re all stressed out!
- 66% of people have financial stress.
- 57% are stressed about their food or housing needs.
- 77% of people deal with work-related stress.
Stress isn’t all bad. It’s actually a necessary and potentially life-saving response in our bodies. This automatic reaction comes in handy if you’re being attacked by a lion. It causes our hearts to race, decreases the oxygen to our brains, and slows digestion as we prepare to fight or run away. However, in our modern lives, most of our “lions” are emotional and last a long time, and unfortunately, our bodies don’t know the difference.
We are bombarded by stressors every day, both good and bad. Living under its constant pressure can negatively affect our health, impacting our blood pressure, hormones, immunity, and metabolism. And when that pressure inside builds up, it will eventually come out, often in words or actions that hurt the ones we love most.
However, as we learned over the weekend, when we focus on Christ and let him be our center, overwhelmed doesn’t have to be the norm. God has provided us with mighty weapons to use against our stress instead of taking it out on those closest to us.
Ephesians 3:16-17
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
God doesn’t promise us a stress-free life, he strengthens us for it! Because we are waging a spiritual battle against stress, our worldly weapons won’t work.
2 Corinthians 10:3
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.
Victory over our stress only occurs when we give it to God. We must use his word to recognize our stressors and take responsibility for our reactions to them, responding in a way that brings clarity, light, and life to our relationships.
Continue to read The Daily this week as we learn how to be Stronger than Stress with the help of Barb Roose.
*American Psychological Association Survey 2022 and APA Work in America Survey 2023
Questions:
What stresses you? Have you been trying to manage your stress alone? Can you make changes? Can you give it to God?
Next Steps:
Try one of this week's suggestions from Barb’s talk, such as the “Stress Clarity” or “Hands Up/Down” exercises. Or memorize one of the prayers (alternately, you could write it down and keep it in your pocket) so that you're prepared for any stressors that come your way.
If you haven’t seen Barb’s message yet, watch it online or on the CedarCreek Church app!
Text WIN to 419-419-0707 to join our text campaign to be Stronger than Stress.
Prayer:
Father, I know that stress challenges will come, but you have given me tools to defeat the schemes of the enemy. Strengthen my resolve and help me take the necessary steps to meet them in your name. I pray for protection from my reaction to stress over everyone I come in contact with. I know I can’t, but you can. I will let you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 3:16-17
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
This post was written by Julie Estep, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.