How To Overcome Stress
Have you ever felt overwhelmed?
Or aggravated?
Or depressed?
I was speaking with a close friend recently. He said, “I just don’t seem to be as happy as I used to be.”
As soon as he said it, I knew exactly what he was talking about. You see, my friend was feeling overwhelmed.
Often times, we become so overwhelmed with our present problems that we let them stack up. Sometimes, we even let them compound to the point that they steal our joy. And when left unchecked… stress can lead to depression.
You Are Not Alone.
As a pastor, my life doesn’t always look exactly like I wanted. I spend a lot of time dealing with seemingly overwhelming issues. I had to make a decision early on… a decision to not let these challenges get the best of me.
Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:23 (NIV) Frankly, it took me a long time to learn how to enjoy the little things in life… to learn to enjoy the beauty of the moment.
Trust Me, It’s Worth the Effort!
Scientists have proven that stress overloads the brain with powerful hormones that damage and kill brain cells. So don’t allow yourself to get aggravated all the time. It’s not healthy. Right now, I believe your spirit man is sounding an alarm for you to wake up. He wants you to realize that you can’t experience complete peace and comfort under the kind of schedule, pressure, and deadlines that you have placed on yourself.
This Has To Stop!
Stop means to cease, to discontinue, and to put an end to, but it’s also a pretty relevant acronym.
S.T.O.P. = Stop, Observe, and Plan You see, God’s plan and design for your life does not include the pain and strain of feeling overwhelmed. If that’s where you are right now… let me tell you very clearly, you have the power to make it S.T.O.P.
So what’s the plan?
Jesus said, “Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:30 (MSG) Know that He has the whole world in His hands. Know that all things work together for the good of those who love him. Know that He has a purpose and a plan for your life. You see, I’ve read the back of the Book, and the truth is… we win! So today, realize that happiness doesn’t mean everything is perfect. Then, make a decision to look beyond the imperfections.
Say, “Even if everything isn’t right today, I have hope that it can be right tomorrow.” Then smile because you are closer to your breakthrough today then you were yesterday.
Do you have any special way of staying unstressed? Post a comment and share them with us.
Stress: I would love to share about this 5 letter word but honestly it’s difficult so I welcome other advice on this, please
Kimberly, the only advice I can give is to BELIEVE that if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. When you feel doubtful pick up your bible and start reading it. His words are our promises….He has no reason to lie to us, after all He knows His plans for us is for good not for evil. Just look up to the skies whenever you feel stressed out & let it be a reminder that He made all of this for us!!! I will keep you in my thoughts & prayers.
I pray for my kids and grand kids all the time.I try not to worry cause i give it God.But really bad things just keep coming at all of us.the devil is always trying to steal our joy and some times our life.I really can’t take any more.I’m at the end of my rope,it’s beyond stress,and depression.How do we cope with serious issues every day with out it affecting our health?No one should have to live with all these problems every day for years with out end.I’m thinking the Lord is mad or forgot us.
Christine – God NEVER forgets us and he is definitely NOT mad at us or you! God loves you unconditionally. The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 to “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” He loves you and cares about everything that you are going through and He wants to help you with each and every struggle. We have to learn put it all in God’s hands and trust Him. If we trust Him with it, He will handle each and every situation according to His will.
Christine, believe me our Lord is not mad at you nor has he forgot about u & your family. The devil is the one stealing your happiness, making you think it is our Lord doing it to you. I know first hand how stress hits hard and fast and last for years and years. I have been jobless for over 4 years, spent 5 years with no transportation, have survived off of a very small amount of money each month (I have 2 kids and get no child support). I could keep going on but there is no reason to pour my problems out because our Lord has got me & my family through every situation that has come in front of us. Including my most recent set back, I found out I have heart health issues. WHEN GOD IS IT THERE IS NO LIMIT!!!!! I will keep u & your family in my thought and prayers. PLEASE DO NOT LET THE DEVIL STEAL YOUR HAPPINESS & DO NOT LET THE DEVIL WIN, LET JESUS BATTLE THE DEVIL (HE HAS BEAT HIM BEFORE & HE WILL BEAT HIM AGAIN) WHILE U SIT BACK AND WATCH ALL THE GOOD THINGS GOD HAS TO UNFOLD IN YOUR LIFE!!! Jesus loves us this I know for the bible tells me so 🙂 Keep on smiling & keep on shining!!!!
Thanks Pastor Nicole as always your words are very helpful!
Pastor Nicole , this is an awesome message to start the week with The key is keeping company with Jesus. I am making that my focus this week.
Don’t wait! Be Happy NOW and in ALL situations! Today is a true GIFT!
Stress: Let me tell you about stress… Stress killed me and when I say killed me I mean KILLED ME. Sixteen months ago I was so STRESSED Out it put me in the hospital on vacation of all times and during a “stress” test my heart stopped. After a year of test after test after test… they found nothing wrong with my heart it was all stress related issues. With a lot of prayers and the help of GOD and pastor David and Nicole and a lot of Dr’s and very close friends it seams as if i have over came this horrible thing called STRESS!!!
Kevin, so happy that God was able to help you overcome the stress! This is a great testimony to God’s love towards us to help us overcome obstacles in our lives!
Kevin, I pray that Jesus continues to keep stress minimal in your life. To me S.T.R.E.S.S. is just another way to spell D.E.V.I.L!!! Thank you for sharing your story. God is great, He is always with us, but He steps in just when we need Him the most. I recently found out I have heart health problems & if God had not forced me to the hospital the night of March 1, 2013, the doctors said I may not of woke up the next morning!!! I will keep u in my thoughts & prayers!!! God bless!!
I try to remember that nothing that happens in my life takes God by surprise, he has a plan to work it out for my good, he wants me to have a hope and future and he has plans for my good and not evil… Nothing is too big for God. (I have to remind myself.) So I try to stay vigilant not to disagree with God with my mouth or have offense (or secondary offense) in my life in order to keep things flowing between he and I. And I find that stress involves worry and burden… If I’m stressed I’m carrying too much burden and need to shift it over to Jesus (cast my cares) and if I’m worrying, I try to consider the worst case scenario… Can I accept that? Can God work that out? (Remember nothing is too big for God.) If so, I let it go and AT THAT POINT the enemy no longer has a foothold. He has nothing to dangle over my head. I’m trusting God with that worst case (which RARELY happens) and I get my peace and joy back. This is an ongoing process every few days. Oh and I have to remind myself to get my eyes off my problem and back onto Jesus. He’s a gentleman and prefers to drive, which, to be honest makes for a much more enjoyable journey than when I’m taking control!
Wow Shannon! This is great! Reminding ourselves that our God is there to take our burdens from us is key to surviving the stresses that come along with life!
Thank you Shannon, your words are very inspirational!!!!!
As a college student Pastor Nicole I get stressed real easily but I always remember that God has a plan for me. Whenever I get stressed I take a deep breath walk away from the thing that is stressing me and just read my bible or listen to some music. To me life is full of stress you just have to walk away from it and do something that makes you happy. My mom always tells me to stop stressing. And she is right I need to stop stressing because stress isn’t good for me or for my health. I’m not going to let stress take over my life I’m going to walk away from it and relax and follow God’s plan for me
Great thoughts Cheryl! Being strong enough to walk away is a talent in and of itself. 🙂
When I get so overwhelmed by what is going on in my life I just stop wherever I am & begin to praise God! Some how, some way the pressure of stress, the anxiety all of it will begin to lift & I am back to smiling again!
MUSIC!!!! I turn to music, sometimes I turn it up loud in my home, sometimes I take a ride (alone) in my car & turn on my favorite station, sometimes I lay in bed with headphones on & listen to my music just loud enough to soothe my soul, sometimes I dance, sometimes I cry, sometimes I sing to my music, but I always PRAISE GOD no matter where I listen to my music & no matter what I am doing when I listen to my music….for he is my truth & my light!!!!
This blog is a blessing and I am thankful for all who shared. It’s great to hear different challenges. I want you each to know I’m praying for you. I also want to remind you that while exercise is likely recommended as an outlet… stressed spelled backwards is desserts! 😀