Living a Balanced LifeSample

Peace That Passes Understanding

Through prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, you can realize a “peace...  which surpasses all understanding” and know that this peace “will guard your hearts and minds” (Philippians 4:6, 7).

Your natural human desire for acceptance, status, and possessions can create tension within. If you perceive that your needs or desires are not going to be met, you may experience anxiety and stress. How can you “be anxious for nothing” in the face of such situations?

Managing stress for a Christian begins with understanding yourself and knowing what Scripture teaches about the nature of God. To understand yourself means to know your basic nature, the potential of your strengths, and the limits of your weaknesses. This is no small task, for self-deception can prevent clear discernment (Jeremiah 17:9). Pride and independence can block self-awareness. God Himself must give the self-awareness needed (Jeremiah 17:10). Only He can show clearly where change is needed and bring about that change in basic human nature (Psalm 139:23, 24).

An understanding of the nature of God comes from His self-revelation in Scripture and in Christ (John 1:14, 18). Knowing and accepting the unchanging nature of God produces stability and peace (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Understanding the quality of His character inspires trust (1 John 1:5).

Much of stress dissipates when you acknowledge your dependence upon God and submit to His leadership (Psalm 73:26; 1 Peter 5:6, 7), recognizing that you are locked into time and space as finite creatures, while He is infinite, eternal, and omnipresent.