STRESS

STRESS: Can we really live without it?

I’ve wanted to talk about stress for a long time but I just couldn’t find the right words to put out there. In my thinking, how do I write about stress when I am still trying to cope with it. The best way to explain is telling you about my life. It’s the best way that we as people can understand each other. So welcome to my life of adventures, stress, and humility.

It all began four years ago, the one thing that I had not planned in my life, the BIG UNKNOWN!

I asked the Lord for something four years ago. It was a simple prayer that I knew would have a big impact on my life.  I knew not of what the effects would be, but I asked with all my heart. “Lord humble my life.” With those four words my life changed. Forever changed. I wouldn’t take back that prayer, but that is when my plans were turned upside down.  

I had decided that I couldn’t just pray that prayer once but I needed to pray that prayer daily. For the past four years, every day, I have asked the Lord to humble my life.

God’s answer to me was simple yet purposeful. If I was to ask for humility I needed to trust Him.

With faith that could move mountains I prayed for humility. I was excited to see God work. But, when God started to move those “mountains” in my life to humble me I became confused. “Lord,” I would ask, “what are you doing?” I asked for humility not life changes. But, with every change, with every prayer for humility, I drew closer to God.

And stress, well stress came from unbelief. Unbelief that God had everything in control. Unbelief that God’s plan is better than my own. Stress. Unbelief. Stress.

Oh, we can sure talk about contentment, change, and our plans. But going out into the unknown seeking God and trusting him is a big difference.

In my stress filled mind I have seen…

A never ending sickness

Job-less and money-less

The death of Stephen – the man who made me laugh and who made me want to be more like Jesus

Continual medical problems and tests

Moving, continual moving from place to place

Tiredness, exhaustion, and emotionally drained (This one sums up my life right now)

And I began to think, I didn’t ask for any of this!

On the days where I feel so stressed I wish for a different life. I wish for no more sickness. I wish to be married and provided for. I wish for a future with my "dream job."  And on those bad days, where I wish for the perfect life, I firmly believe that all those things will take away my stress. Being an adult is so hard at times. Making wise decisions. Choosing to do right instead of wrong. So although I have bad days and wish to imagine my life differently than it is, I do realize that the life I have been given has a purpose. A day may come where I will be free from sickness, married, and have a "dream job." But I must remember today...

I must remember, I asked the Lord for humility! I asked for humility today, yesterday and the day before that. My prayer for humility changed my life for the better. And although their are days upon days recently where I have been so stressed out with life, God has everything in control. I must trust Him!

Reminded, humbled, and encouraged I am reminded that I did ask for change. I asked for humility. And with each life changing event God has shown me more of who He is and how much I need Him.

I was asked not long ago why I would turn to God when all these “bad, trauma filled, life changing things keep occurring in my life.” My response, “Jesus is the only thing that makes sense.” I asked the Lord to make me more like Him, to humble me. With every daily prayer my life has been changed, forever changed.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is the reason. The reason to live, to laugh, to die.

My biggest struggle at the moment is trust. Trusting the Lord that he has everything in control. Trusting that His ways are best. Forget about the little stresses, forget about the big stresses, Jesus has everything in control.

 Trusting and not stressing. For when I stress, I realize I do not trust.

I’ve talked to many people recently who feel stressed, attacked, and discontent. TRUST and do not stress. Put your trust in Jesus and He will make your plans straight, stress-free, and purposed!

May our faith become stronger and our stress become less. As the month of February comes upon us remember that our joy comes from Jesus. May you and I begin to live less stress-filled lives as we go out and live our lives with a purpose to trust the Lord!