Hope for Stress

We hear a great deal today about stress and how to handle it. Unfortunately, our society seems to be plagued with stress, which manifests in confusion, frustration, anxiety, fear, insomnia, weight fluctuations, etc. 

God doesn’t want his children stressed out by a particular season of the year or any other circumstances we may be facing. For you, that might be a job, a financial situation, or family issues; or it may just be this season of Christmas shopping, decorating, and meal preparation. Whatever circumstance you find yourself in, give it to God and allow Him to “establish the work of [your] hands” (Psalm 90:17). 

You can also practice some essential keys of stress management I have learned over the years: put God first, plan each day wisely, schedule your time, write things down, stick to your goals, and avoid delay. Doing each of these keys will enable you to eliminate a significant amount of stress.

The first part of Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days.” The Hebrew word for “number” in this verse can also imply preparation. Ask God to teach you how to prepare for each day in order to achieve your goals and be victorious. Remember: yesterday is the foundation upon which you are building today, and today is the foundation for tomorrow. What you do right now sets the stage for your future. 

Action Step: Take time to plan the next day or two, including each day’s goals. Also, try to finish anything that you’ve been putting off. Finally, and most importantly, encourage yourself in the Lord by scheduling a time of Bible reading and prayer to start each day—even if it’s just 5 or 10 minutes! (Perhaps you could start with the story of Christmas in Matthew 1:18-2:12 and Luke 1:26-:40.)