Overcoming StressSample

It’s going to be okay. 

We’ve learned a lot about stress. We’ve learned it’s different from anxiety, it causes our bodies to freak out, and it’s a real problem we need to address. But here’s the truth: it’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay. Even when it seems too overwhelming to bear, know that peace is possible. 

We have everything we need not only to handle stress but also to defeat stress. But not by our own strength. We can only defeat stress through the presence of Jesus. 

Now, there are a ton of healthy ways we can deal with stress. And those are wonderful habits to cultivate! You can handle stress by talking to your best friend, playing a sport you love, getting active outside, doing something creative, or venting to a trusted leader, adult, or parent. And those are excellent ways to manage stress. 

 But the only way we can slay stress is through stillness. We’ve got to spend time in prayer inviting the presence of God to bring the peace of God. We’ve got to arm ourselves for the stresses of the day by loading up on God’s Word. In fact, there’s a whole section about the armor of God we’ll read about in Ephesians 6. 

We can’t just go into our day without fueling up on the power of God. We fight real battles, and stress is a real thing. But we don’t have to let it control us. We will fight stress, but we won’t fight it alone. 

We’ve got to start our day in prayer and pray anytime we start feeling stressed. We’ve got to listen to God’s truth over the world’s lies. And we’ve got to know who we are, and that’s a child of the living God. 

So, no, we can’t defeat stress on our own. But the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us, and by that power, we can conquer stress. We can call upon the name of Jesus. Because there is power and peace in God’s presence. 

Peace is possible, but we have to pursue it. We have to pursue God’s presence to experience His peace. So, how do we overcome stress? We’ve got to get out of our heads and into God’s presence. And when we do, we will experience a peace that goes beyond our understanding. 

Challenge: How do you experience God’s presence the most? Do you need to spend more time reading His Word, praying to Him, or listening to Him? Choose a habit you need to build or strengthen to experience God’s presence. Commit to investing time in that habit every day for a week and see if you feel different.