A Quick Look at Stress

By Priscy Marie

Stress!  You feel it in your neck, your back, and head and all over your body.  You can even see it, like around your waist line.  It amazes me how during times of stress we either go on an involuntary fast or become compulsive overeaters and others’ bodies store fat during this involuntary fast and create unwanted insulation that is quite visible. UGH!!!! STRESS!  I feel bloated just thinking about it.  Even when it’s related to a good thing like a wedding or promotion, stress is, in itself, not desirable.  Why would God let us go through stress that makes our hair fall out or turn grey, our skin denourish and wrinkle up?  People can die from stress.  It kills us!

Is stress a sin?  Hmm… I wonder.  According to Webster’s dictionary it’s a constraining force or influence.  That does not sound pleasant to me at all.  When we stress, are we, sometimes, doubting that it will not work out well?  I believe that when we doubt that God will come through.  We are doubting God’s faithfulness and in essence doubting God and in that, sinning against Him.

Stress leads to frustration and frustration is work of the flesh.  I don’t know about you but I don’t want my flesh leading me anywhere.  When the flesh leads, it usually ends with time lost in regret from decisions hastily made. 

The truth is that God always makes a way and He tells us to cast our burdens on Him and that He will carry our load.  He is our God.  He is faithful.   He is the provider of all because He is the creator and we as His creation, are reapers of His provision, including constraining forces.  It’s great to know
that we don’t have to stress and that He actually prepares us before situations happen.  We just have to open our eyes to see that He’s there and has been there all along.  He never leaves us.  He is waiting for us, waiting for us to give Him our burdens. He tackles all the good and bad and ugly.  He takes it all and works it for our good.  All we have to do is love Him. And if love Him then follow His ways.  So, let’s stop stressing and regain our waistlines and youth.  Let’s live the life God wants us to live and not just believe He has us but KNOW it.