Monday, September 16, 2024

With the current decline in mental health, it’s apparent that something must be done.

What is causing such significant stress in people’s lives? Finances, marital problems, our children’s struggles, social media, and the constant pressure to keep up in the race of life, to name a few. Unfortunately, living under constant stress puts us at risk for unhealthy behaviors, such as excessive alcohol use, vaping, shopping addictions, and violence.

But what if there was a different way to react to the heaviness we feel in this life? Good news—there is!

If we flip the switch from self to God, we can find a better way of handling our burdens. If we make stress our friend and not our foe, we can begin to retrain our brain. During those stressful moments, stop and ask yourself, “What is God trying to build in me?” Slowly but surely, we will begin to pivot our thought process and, in turn, our reactions and outcomes.

John 15:11
“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

Jesus’ teachings were intended to make our lives better. He knew that nothing of this world could ever sell, offer, or promise what our souls truly need.

John 14:27
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

He doesn’t promise that it’s going to be easy. On the contrary, he warns us that there will be valleys.

James 1:2 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

Just as fire sharpens iron, the adversities we face strengthen us. It’s important to have a plan for overcoming those trials. We need people in our lives whom we can count on, good people who love the Lord. People who will offer up prayers on our behalf, who will help us grow. Quality is more important than quantity. We just need a few good souls to help keep us whole when we are feeling half.

Equally important, we need to be these people for others.

Questions:
What do you find yourself stressing about the most?

What can you do to cut that stress in half?

How have you coped with stress in the past?

Next Steps:
Journal about what stresses you most and about what you can do differently in response to that stress. Reflecting on your entry, what can you learn about yourself from your stressors?

Spend some time in prayer this week, asking God to reveal the most stressful events in your life and to offer ways to navigate them with peace.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I pray for a heart that wants to grow. I ask you to reveal to me what areas of my life are causing me the most stress. Help me to learn and grow so that I can better manage my stress. Plant in me, the seeds you know I need to nurture in order to fulfill my role in your Kingdom. It’s in your name I pray, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Ephesians 3:16-17
¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

This post was written by Keisha Wiechers, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.