The Stressless LifeSample

Day One: Introduction

Scripture: Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Philippians 4:4-9

It was a day unlike any other until it wasn’t. I suppose it was one of the most frightening too, although I don’t remember much, given that I was basically unconscious. What I do remember was pretty routine: lots of work, lots of fires that needed to be put out, lots of meetings, and lots of pressure to get it all done as quickly as possible.

I’d been in the office for about ten hours when I decided to head home for dinner with my family. I didn’t feel like myself. It seemed like I was moving in slow motion, both mentally and physically. I lost all motivation and energy, and I couldn’t even bring myself to lift my arm to bring food to my mouth. I had a hard time following the conversation between my wife and my kids.

I tried to push through, but by the end of the meal, I was convinced something wasn’t right. I dragged myself up to our bedroom and lay down. I fell asleep instantly.

I didn’t wake up for eight days. I was diagnosed with the physical version of a mental breakdown. My body just quit.

I don’t talk about it much. I don’t even like thinking about it. But I want you to understand one important thing about me: I know what it’s like to be stressed. I know how it feels to be crushed by life’s pressures and apprehensions. I believe you do too. Stress is a reality and a burden for everyone. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that the presence of stress doesn’t need to dominate your life. We can respond to stressful situations in a way that allows us to enjoy life, not just endure it. We can live in a way that’s defined not by anxiety and apprehension but by the unshakable presence of God’s indescribable peace.

I know that’s possible because I’ve seen it happen in the lives of many people—including my own. After I took my unplanned, unwanted, and unforeseen weeklong nap, a hard reset is what followed. I’m excited to share my journey with you and show you what I’ve learned. I’m also grateful to live and work with people who care about me enough to help me see how badly I was managing the stress in my life—and to help me choose a better path. Let’s get started!

Prayer: Father, show me where my life holds stress, and teach me how to remove what you do not ask me to bear. In Jesus’s name, amen.