Dealing with stress…
Jan 19th, 2010 by ljkim
First, let’s clarify our terms: Lots of times when people talk about “stress” they’re actually talking about fear. So if someone says, “I’m stressed out because I have to go to court tomorrow” what they really mean is “I’m scared…” ”Stress” is a bit different from fear. When you’re afraid, and the thing you’re afraid of gets settled, you feel better; but when you’re stressed, nothing seems to make it better. Stress makes you under perform mentally and emotionally, so that things that should be easy or simple become painful and overwhelming. So how can you deal with stress? Here are two suggestions…
One: the root problem with stress is often pride. Martin Luther is reported to have said to his co-worker Philip Melancthon, when he seemed stressed, “let Philip cease to rule the world!” If you think that you are ultimately responsible for everything good, you will eventually be crushed by the burden of it. But if you apply a little humility and realize that although what you do is important, there is something greater at work in your life…and ultimately He is responsible for everything good in your life. Then you can roll with the punches a bit more, relax, rest, and be creative.
Two: psychological stress works the same way physical stress does. So if you were to get up from the computer and hold your hands out to the side – how hard is that? No problem right? But if you kept your arms out there for 5, or 10 minutes, this simple easy task quickly becomes unbearable. How come? That’s physical stress you’re feeling on your arms and shoulders. Why do you think that happened? Holding your arms out should be easy! And it is, but not if you try to stay in that same position for too long.
Here’s what this means for you. God may have made you the boss of something, but you need to realize: every believer is a leader (of people sometimes), a follower (of people and of Jesus), a teacher, a student, a nurse, a patient, a comforter, someone who needs comforting, a parent, a child…both literally and figuratively. Sometimes you’re in the driver’s seat, and sometimes you’re a passenger. Stress happens when you try to drive from the passenger’s seat.
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What this means practically is, if you’re stressed out because you always have to be in control of everything, let someone else be in control. Let your arms rest from time to time on a regular basis. Let God be God, and let other people take the lead sometimes. If you’re stressed out because you always have to take care of everyone, then let people take care of you. If you’re stressed out because you’ve been slacking and things are out of control, then take control of the things you’re responsible for. You’ll feel a lot better once you’re on top of things with a plan. Then let God be in control, and allow other people to lead sometimes too…
Jesus was the lion that was a lamb… He was eternal but made himself finite, strong but made himself weak. In the same way following Him means we take different roles, strong, weak, leading, following, working, resting… do only one or two of those and you’ll find your arms starting to get stiff.
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