Daily Bible Study – Immanuel experience…

LEARN and PRACTICE the WORD of GOD

Daily Bible Study – Immanuel experience…

Reasons for Stress and Solution

Life in this world

In today’s world it is virtually impossible to avoid stress. Almost everyone is carrying some amount of it, in varying degrees. Many find it increasingly difficult to simply survive in the world we live in. In desperation, people are seeking relief for their problems through any remedy they can find. Our culture is inundated with self-help books, therapists, time-management workshops, massage parlors, and recovery programs . Everyone talks about returning to a “simpler” way of life, but no one seems to even know exactly what that means, or how to attain it. Many of us cry out like Job: “The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me.” (Job 30:27).

Unfortunately, most of us cannot just unload stress like a backpack. It seems to be intrinsically woven into the very fabric of our lives. It lurks somewhere beneath our skin. It keeps us up late into the night, just when we need sleep the most. It presses in on us from all sides. Yet, Jesus says, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mathew 11:28-30). Those words have touched the hearts of many, yet they are only words that merely sound comforting and are in essence, worthless, unless they are true. If they are true, how can we apply them to our lives and walk free from the burdens that weigh us down so badly? Perhaps you are responding, “I would love do that if only I knew how!” How can we receive rest for our souls?

Stress seems inevitable in some form or another. Why?

Why Do We Get Stressed?

We experience stress for countless reasons. Top causes include work, finance, health, relationships, poor nutrition, and media overload. Even considering work stress alone, half a dozen variables factor in, including salary, workload, growth opportunities, conflicting demands, lack of support, and control. With constant demands on our time, energy, and emotions, it feels impossible to turn “off.” Instantly accessible at any moment, we’re always on-call and in-demand. No wonder we’re stressed out.

Is technology to blame? Maybe in part, but technology is not the real root of stress. Sin is.

When we look at Genesis 3, we remember why life is hard. We sinned. Adam and Eve chose independence over dependence on God in the very beginning of the world, leaving all generations to wrestle with learning how to depend on God the way we were designed to. From the moment that we chose independence, God has been calling us back to him. Uncertainties in life are opportunities to depend on God the way he intended us to. It doesn’t mean they’re easy or that they turn out the way we want, but we do have the freedom to let go of our white-knuckled grip on control.

While the Bible doesn’t talk specifically about “stress”, it says plenty about anxiety and worry. Our stress, anxiety, and worry don’t come from God. Instead, scripture reminds us to hand over our anxiety to God.

Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Matthew 11:28-30: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world give, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Isaiah 55:1-3 Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend your money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me that your soul may live!

(To be continued…)

Prayer: Abba Father, We bless You for our lives, we give You praise for Your abundant mercy and grace we receive. We thank You for Your faithfulness even though we are not that faithful to You. Lord Jesus, we ask You to give us all around peace in our mind, body, soul and spirit. We want You to heal and remove everything that is causing stress, grief, and sorrow in our lives. Please guide our path through life and make our enemies be at peace with us. Let Your peace reign in our family, at our place of work, businesses and everything we lay our hands on. Let Your angels of peace go ahead of us when we go out and stay by our side when we return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.