Oghomwen (Owen) Jones
Stress can be internal from our body or thoughts or external, from our environment. It can be caused by a physical or emotional stimulus or situation. “ Stress doesn’t only make us feel awful emotionally. It can also exacerbate just about any health condition you can think of. “ says Jay Winner, MD.
Stress should be managed, as its effects can be far reaching especially if it’s levels are high, on-going and chronic. Chronic stress can cause or exacerbate many serious health problems including mental health concerns like anxiety and depression. Cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attacks and stroke can also be caused or made worse by stress. Some other ailments that are often related to stress are headaches, gastrointestinal problems, accelerated aging, premature death. These will invariably have a negative impact on our wellbeing and health. In extreme cases, stress can get in the way of us fulfilling our purpose.
Let’s take a look at what God says about stress in His Word.
As believers in Christ, we can depend on our trust in God’s promises and avoid and/or manage stress. When we have revelation of His Word we believe what He has promised. Our ultimate goal should be getting to a place in our Christian walk, where we just know that because He has said something, it is so.
This is a place of rest in Him…the place He wants us to be. And we can get there, by spending quality time fellowshipping with Him. The flip side is a place where we worry. This is not a good place, as it causes stress, is of fear not of faith and certainly doesn’t please Him.
ULTIMATELY WORRY LEADS TO STRESS
Have you noticed how our worrying does not result in the desired turnaround in any situation? Really all stress does is cause our bodies harm. This has been medically proven and God in His Word admonishes us not to worry.
Let’s look at scripture:
Luke 12:25-26 TPT
Does worry add anything to your life? Can it add one more year, or even one day? So if worrying adds nothing, but actually subtracts from your life, why would you worry about God’s care of you?
The physical presence of lack/need, is often at the root of us worrying and can bring on stress. Now that we have established in His Word that worry adds nothing positive to our lives, it is pointless right? Each and every day God will supply our needs as we seek his kingdom diligently, and not worry.
Luke 12:31-32 TPT
As you passionately seek his kingdom, above all else, he will supply your needs. So don’t ever be afraid, dearest friends! Your loving Father joyously gives you his kingdom with all its promises!
When we learn to seek God first, He promises to take care of all our needs. God tells us not to worry. You do know that He never tells us to do what we cannot do, what He has not equipped us to do?
God’s Word is life and can accomplish ALL that He says. We must learn to believe and use His Word to combat worry.
Psalm 55:22 MSG
Pile your troubles on GOD’s shoulders— he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin.
The Lord tells us often in scripture not to worry, to cast our cares unto Him. I watched a sermon by Kenneth Copeland Ministries many years ago on how to combat worry that really blessed me. Gloria Copeland and George Pearsons used the analogy of a discus thrower throwing their discus. Have you noticed how the discus is thrown with thrower’s might, and not gingerly? That is what we are to do with worry, cast it unto the Lord with ALL our might.
Our shoulders are not big or strong enough to carry our cares. God did not make our shoulders to carry the cares of this world. Have you noticed how the shoulder area often gets tight and sore when we are weighed down with the cares of this world? I certainly have. All in the past now thankfully. I have learned to take Him at His Word and gladly cast any cares unto Him. When we ignore God and decide to carry our cares we often get stressed, sick and in extreme cases it can cause early death.
Let’s look at more scripture.
1 Peter 5:7 KJV
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
So don’t think or say you cannot cast your cares unto Him. There is nothing that God tells us to do that we cannot do. When He instructs, He also equips. We can and we should. God knows that we will experience trials here on earth, but;
John 16:33 KJV
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
As believers we must endeavour to live in the fulness of ALL that God has promised us. His promise is that in Him we can have peace and be of good cheer even through trials here on earth. When we learn to live in the fulness of His promises, we can live stress free here on earth.
Simply put…stop worrying. Do your bit, love Him, love people, walk in His purpose for you, work hard, and trust Him to do the rest. He will.
Remember also that our Heavenly Father has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us…
Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear What man shall do unto me.
For those reading who have not yet given their life to Christ, surely I have given you many reasons today to get to know Him. I implore you to do so…
https://hopelify.org/the-impact-of-stress-on-our-body/