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Reducing Life’s Stresses

Regarding the stresses in our life, the apostle Paul stated in Philippians 4:6 (Kenneth E. Wuest – Expanded Translation): “Stop worrying about even one thing, but in everything by prayer whose essence is that of worship and devotion and by supplication which is a cry for your personal needs, with thanksgiving let your requests for the things asked for be made known in the presence of God.”

Heart disease is still one of the major causes of death in the United States according to the American Heart Association. Health professionals have determined that undue stress causes heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, migraine headaches and perhaps cancer. The following are some suggestions as to how we can reduce some of the stress in our lives:

1) Recognize Stress Is Real In Our Life

Stressful situations come to people of all ages, all economic levels and all races. Christians experience stress as well as non-Christians.

A question we might as ourselves is, “Is all stress bad?” We usually associate it with the negative. However, without some stress we could not live long. We should be thankful for physical changes we undergo in some cases of stress. For example, when we see a rattlesnake or are in some other life-threatening situation. The brain perceives the danger in a flash, sends a message via the hypothalamus to the pituitary on down the spinal colume to the heart, spleen, intestines, liver, etc. giving us the extra strength to flee. this is called the “fight or flight” syndrome. We avoid many dangers through this type of stress reaction. We are able to do things which would be impossible under ordinary circumstances. Like the story of the lady who carried a large chair out of her house that was on fire that ordinarily she could not have lifted or like the mother who lifted a utility pole off her young son – a feat she ordinarily could not have done.

The stress that is deadly to us is the stress caused by family problems, job problems, church problems, financial problems, problems with our children, problems at school, etc. Stress is a reality in our life!

2) Get Our Priorities Right

We often spend our time in pursuit of the wrong goals. Important relationships such as those between husband and wife, parents and children, etc. are sacrificed in order that the family’s financial standard may be kept high. A father takes a second job and is seldom home with his family. A mother works outside the home, neglecting her husband and children. While the house may be large and luxuriously furnished; while there may be two or more cars in the driveway; while all other evidences of affluent living may be present, the cost is extremely high and the stress rate is tremendous!

Someone has said, “If you would be happy, keep your wants few and simple.” There is a great deal of truth in that statement. Unhappiness comes where there is a “gap” between what we desire and what we have. Our modern system of advertising seems to say that happiness lies in having the newest, the best, the most luxurious of all kinds of things. There is no way that anyone can have everything they might conceivably want. If we would be happy, it is obvious we need to control our wants and desires, keeping them in close range with what we have the ability to provide for ourselves.

King Solomon sought the secret of happiness – much as modern man does – in the pursuit of power, pleasure, knowledge and wealth, only to conclude in his old age that all was “vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 2:11) and “what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?” (Ecclesiastes 5:16). He came to the conclusion that the primary purpose of man was to “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Nothing can be more helpful in getting our priorities right than spending a few minutes every day in God’s Word. Doing this provides a clear understanding of the real goals in life. Much stress can be eliminated by applying God’s Word to our lives. The Bible teaches us to:

(a) Priortize our lives (Matthew 6:33).
(b) Live one day at a time (Matthew 6:34).
(c) Realize that not all things happen in our lives are good but God has promised to work them for our good (Romans 8:28).
(d) To cast “all” our cares on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7).

3) Live According To Right Principles

Many people find their lives in turmoil because they violate simple principles by which life must be lived if it is to run smoothly. They are constantly sawing against the grain, swimming upstream against the current.

Learning and applying the basic principles of Christianity as taught in Christ’s sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) and elsewhere throughout the New Testament, are absolutely essential if one is to have peace of mind. Honoring God, loving one’s fellowman, having an attitude of humble self-respect and respect for the things that God’s Word teaches us to respect, honor and follow after. The destructive emotions which fracture so many lives — fear, guilt, hatred and feelings of failure — are not present in our lives. When we apply the spiritual principles of God’s Word to our daily living, our lives will flow more smoothly and the tensions and stresses of life will be kept to a minimum.

4) Develop The Spiritual Aspects Of Life

The main difference in the non-Christian and the Christian struggling with stress in their lives is that Christians have access to better resources for coping with stress. Christians have:

(a) God’s Word to give them the “blessings” (Ephesians 1:3), “strength” (Ephesians 3:16; Colossians 1:11; Philippians 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:17) and “courage” (Psalm 27:14; Psalm 31:24) needed to cope with life’s stresses.

(b) A support group – the church (Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5; Romans 1:8; Romans 15:30; 1 Corinthians 1:4, 11; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:4; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 4; Hebrews 10:23-25).

The Bible gives us some very practical ways of living which will help us reduce the amount of stress in our lives. If we will incorporate the following principles found in Philippians 4:4-13, stress will not be as much a struggle for us as it once was.

1) Have a joyful approach to life (vs. 4,10).
2) Treat others kindly (vs. 5a).
3) Know the Lord is coming (vs. 5b).
4) Ask God for what you need (vs. 6).
5) Accept God’s peace (vs. 7).
6) Think about good and spiritual things (vs. 8).
7) Imitate godly people (vs. 9).
8) Depend on others (vs. 10).
9) Focus your happiness on things other than possessions (vs. 11-12).
10) Draw on Christ’s power to face life’s challenges (vs. 13).

Conclusion

Life indeed has its stresses. There can be no mistake about that. But there is a way to handle those stresses and that way is to follow in the steps of Christ whose life demonstrated a beauty, strength and serenity that changed the world (John 3:2; Acts 10:38). Remember, we are instructed to have the “mind” of Christ (Matthew 11:29; John 15:15; Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6).