How to manage stress
Who doesn’t deal with stress? Stress exists everywhere in the world. It does not discriminate and certainly will never exit the world until Jesus returns. According to Oxford Languages, stress is defined as “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” With that said, we are not built to resist it when it presents itself to us, we are built to manage it, or give it to God to handle for us while exercising obedience to him. Overall, stress is a necessary factor for our growth and survival.
So how do we manage stress? We manage stress, by first, understanding its nature and elements. Most times we consider a situation to be stressful because we lack the capacity and knowledge to resolve it immediately. When presented with a stressful situation, it is important to do our homework and act according to knowledge and understanding in order to put the matter to rest. Stressful situations also require our responses to stretch beyond our comfort zones and to do some things differently. It is at this point of stretching that we begin to grow and develop the necessary skills and strength needed for life’s survival.
​Secondly, some stressful situations hang around us or stay with us for long periods of time because we are not managing them, growing from them, or they are not our situations to manage. This results from us being blindsided and non proactive in exercising sound judgement and will power to eradicate the situations to move forward. No one is to be blamed for this, but ourselves. Everyone must take full responsibility for their own stresses. When we find that we are incapable of managing our own stresses and helping others with theirs, we should in turn seek God’s help through prayer, and reading his word for guidance and instructions.
To further clarify this stance of needing God’s help for managing stress when it is out of one’s control, the word of God makes declarations of what one should do when this happens. It is important to also note that everyone will arrive at a helpless point when it comes to managing stress from time to time. When we do, however, we can always lean on God and his son Jesus. The book of Proverbs 3:4-6 states, “4Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” And Matthew 6:34 also states,“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” And last but not least, Philippians 4:6 also states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” These scripture verses confirm that somethings are better left in the hands of God when we cannot find a solution. We are not to worry and be anxious. For God in the right time, will provide an answer or solution. Meanwhile, we should trust, obey, glorify, and reverence him, and when we receive the victory over each stressful situation, we should always testify of his goodness to others. Be and stay blessed!
Written By: Iodelle A. Chinnery