Stress remedy

 

Our remedy for stress? 

A believer's solution for stress is to trust in our Lord. Stress is a fact of life, even for the most godly Christians. I'm not sure where it came from (probably from the devil) but we've gotten the crazy notion that if we follow and obey the Lord, we will not experience any difficult trials. But my Bible (and yours, too) repeatedly tells us that often it's because of our following the Lord that we will encounter trials. Let's be honest here: if we blend in with the world, nobody is going to bother us -- but if it becomes known that we follow Christ, we become a special target . . . it's as if there is a huge bulls-eye tacked to our back.

Our Savior explained it this way:

 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (John 15:19, NASB)

I've read some books that make it sound as if when we discover the secret of resting in the Lord, we are always going to be perfectly calm. Even in the midst of terrible trials. They make it sound, too, like if your emotions are on a roller coaster ride, then you must need a refresher course on trust - they say if you are feeling turbulent, then your spiritual life must be lacking. Personally? When I hear people talk that way, I wonder if they read the same Bible that I do! 

Just look at psalm 31! (Just a side note, here, I've not posted all of the psalm and I do hope that you will read it on your own. Include it in your daily prayer time this week and let the words soak in.)  David packed all of his emotions in here. He was not ashamed to say that he was feeling shame and guilt, as we studied in previous psalms. He had taken his eyes off the Lord and there were consequences. Also, just as in our last psalm, David said he was afraid. He said he was in distress and that he was sad.

But notice also, everything is not negative. He also experienced some of the high points of the roller coaster ride. In verse seven, he rejoiced and told of both God's lovingkindness and His omniscience:

I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction
    and knew the anguish of my soul. (Psalm 31:7)

In verse nineteen, David praised God for His goodness stored up for those who fear Him. In verses twenty-three and twenty-four, he tells all of God's people to love Him, be strong, be courageous, and hope in Him.

Far different from the spiritual books that I mentioned earlier, this psalm is very true to life - we can see the entire journey from anguish to assurance here. David gained the victory, but then the waves of emotion rolled over him and he was again plunged into despair - then he gained the victory again. To me, this says it is very normal for us as believers to feel a wide variety of emotions in our trials - I think that to picture ourselves sitting serenely untouched by the trials of life is a false view of the Christian life!

I really am inspired by these verses from Paul:

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (II Corinthians 1:8-11)

Notice that in verse eight, Paul uses a word that the translators felt could best be understood as "pressure." And notice, too, that he says that the key is to rely on God.

I hope that you will study Psalm 31 this week; I was impressed as I read with how many attributes of God that David mentions. He has such a deep knowledge of God and he lists that God is a refuge, a rock, a stronghold; He is righteous, truthful, kind, and gracious. David didn't learn all those things about God in a flash; he didn't gain this knowledge suddenly in the middle of this situation. David had a long time relationship with his Lord, so then when the crisis hit, David had resources in God to lean on.

The best time to prepare for pressure is before it hits! If we are not in a crisis, we need to take the time to sink our roots that will enable us to weather storms. This is not fear-mongering. This is common sense. We should spend time alone with God and His Word. This feeds our soul; it ferrets out sin that needs to be dug out; it prepares us for stressful, pressurized times.

If we are already in crisis times, we need to trust Him as never before. He is gracious and will meet us there. If we are not currently in the pressure-cooker times of life, let's prepare for stress before it hits.