Walking With Jesus - HopeSmakprov

VICTORIOUS OVER STRESS

Life in this world is full of pressure. Many crises, either financial, family, business or ministry crisis, can put pressure on our hearts and minds. We might even have a crisis in our relationship with God. Many children of God do not read and meditate on God's Word as they should. This is one thing that can trigger stress. They failed to learn from God. No wonder when their lives are shaken, they are shaken as well because they rely on something that is easily shaken - wealth, position, life – and not to the eternal Word of God. The Bible is the Word of God to us, written so that we learn, find peace and hope. We can overcome pressures by holding on to the promises He delivered in His Word and continue to faithfully hold them.

Many believers fail to rely on God in times of stress. They rely on their strength, and fail. Many people rely on other people to get help. Human help is limited, in terms of generosity and time. God's help is unlimited and never fails. To overcome pressure, we must trust in Jesus Christ without hesitation. He promises, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (James 4: 8).

Many children of God are careless in doing their work. They are too busy pursuing personal interests. They work with their own minds without ever involving God in both planning and implementation. And when it fails and the stress gets harder, they blame God for not being involved. Working with God is the answer to our stress. We don't need to work alone because we have a Father who is ready to extend his strong hand to us.

Many Christians are stressed because they do not love God and others. Their lives are only motivated by the efforts to prioritize personal interests and the efforts to pursue material for personal gain. We must surrender, unconditionally, to God and make a total commitment to Him. The Holy Spirit will purify our hearts and fill our hearts with God's love. A loving heart will be victorious over any pressure.

Therefore, you have a choice: to resist the pressure by faith in the Lord Jesus, or to accept defeat because you don't care about God's Word, you choose to rely on yourself, do everything yourself, and be cold and apathetic. If we have overcome the pressure we will be expected to help others who are also under pressure. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we are comforted by God."(2 Cor. 1: 3-4).

Reflection: 

1. What kind of pressures often stress you out? What do you think is the cause?
2. What do you do to deal with your stress?

Application: Learn to face things in the right way, the way of God.