Stressed Out

Matthew 11: ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

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Meeting after meeting, my day was full. If I wasn’t in meetings, I was answering my voicemail or replying to some scathing email left by the arrogant. After a while I found myself without sleep. I would wake in the middle of the night thinking about work. The speed in which I had to reply to issues was ridiculous. Was there any relief?!

• I have been stressed out in the past.
• I have had extreme pressure in the past.
• I have had to face situations where it seemed as if no one was in my corner and I did not know where to turn.

Feeling like no one cares can lead to even more stress. After a while I even asked the question, “GOD do you care?” HE gave me HIS answer.

• GOD said to me “I care so come to me with whatever is stressing you out.”
• GOD said to me “I love you so I will yoke myself with you and pull when you cannot.”
• GOD said to me “I died for you and now I live so with the power that has been given to ME, I will give you rest.”

There is no issue too great for GOD. There is no problem GOD cannot solve. There is no situation that causes me stress that GOD cannot handle. Whether GOD is my first choice or the last, I can always go to HIM and give HIM my burdens.

I can also learn HIS word so in times of stress I can use them to navigate the unwieldy times. GOD cares enough about me that HE wants me to have peace. All I need to do is seek HIM.

• Are you stressed out?
• Do you face situations that have you deeply worried?
• Can you talk to GOD about what is stressing you out?
• Will you connect yourself to HIM and learn HIS word so you can navigate through stressful times?

Bless my work

Deuteronomy 32: ¹¹ Bless all his skills, Lord,
    and be pleased with the work of his hands.
Strike down those who rise against him,
    his foes till they rise no more.”

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“Pull up the weeds” my father said so I tried to escape by doing ‘inside the house stuff.’ Wash the walls” my mother said. “I can’t escape!” I thought to myself. When they said they were sending me down to spend some time with my grandmother I got excited!

When I arrived, I plopped down near a fan because of the blistering heat. Little did I know her plans were different. I was awaken early in the morning to work harder than I ever worked before! Won’t this work ever end?

• Sometimes I complain about the work I’m doing.
• Sometimes I want to escape the work because it seems like a curse.
• Sometimes I feel stuck in a rut when it comes to my job.

What is the point? I ask myself. Doesn’t GOD want me to be rich and lazy? Apparently not! For me GOD has something different.

• GOD has given me talent to work with my mind and my hands.
• GOD has given me gifts that only I can do so I should not complain about them.
• GOD has given me work to do and I should treat it with the highest esteem.

Whether it’s pulling up weeds, cleaning toilets (yes I did this too) or planning a multi-million dollar deployment, I need to treat the work like it’s directly from GOD. I can never take credit for the results either. It is GOD who blesses my work especially when I treat work like it’s a blessing!

• Are you complaining about your job?
• Do you think what you are doing is beneath you?
• Can you look at your work as a blessing?
• Won’t you treat what you are doing with the highest regard as if GOD delivered it to you?

When the noise is too noisy

Deuteronomy 27: ⁹ Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. ¹⁰ Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”

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With one eye open I peered at the clock and to my dismay it was 4:37 in the morning. I had a very large project due and since I was awake I got up and thought about it.  That led to other thoughts. I realized I had gone to bed without doing voicemail.

As my brain slipped back into consciousness I remembered all of the people I had to contact for that day. By 5:00AM I was fully awake. I worked until 10:00PM. Oh, and I forgot to do voicemail again!

• Noisy situations keep me awake.
• Noisy circumstances bring on many thoughts that I lose sleep over trying to resolve.
• Noisy environments make me lose my concentration and it seems like I can’t focus.

There are many things that can cause noise in my life. People bring me problems. Material things break or are lost or stolen. Someone gets sick or feisty or demanding.  All of these things add to the noise and when the noise is too noisy, I want to go in the corner and ball up like a child.

• “Be silent” is what GOD wants me to be so I can hear HIM.
• “Stand still” is what GOD says to me when I’m running too fast.
• “Have rest” is what GOD is giving me when I lay awake worried about ‘insert situation.’

The most powerful and high GOD tends not to yell at me. In fact HE speaks in a very soft, calming, inaudible voice. When life is rushing at me too fast, GOD says “Quiet down and listen to ME. The situation is close to MY heart and I love you.”

• Do you have a lot on your mind?
• Does it seem like you are getting confused trying to figure out what to do next?
• Can you take a moment to quiet yourself sown to listen to GOD?
• Won’t you let GOD tell you what to do next instead of worrying about it?

Why is GOD doing “this?”

Deuteronomy 8: ³ He took your pride away. He let you go hungry. Then he gave you manna to eat. You and your parents had never even known anything about manna before. He tested you to teach you that man doesn’t live only on bread. He also lives on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴ Your clothes didn’t wear out during these 40 years. Your feet didn’t swell.

⁵ Here is what I want you to know in your hearts. The Lord your God trains you, just as parents train their children.

⁶ Obey the commands of the Lord your God. Live as he wants you to live. Have respect for him.

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“What’s wrong with my computer” I thought in an enraged and nervous fashion. I had to be on a very stressful call discussing whether I had a job or not. I worked from home that day which was highly unusual for me. As I waited for the call to begin I turned the TV on with the volume turned down low. I fiddled with my computer and finally it booted up and I was ready for the call.

Though the call had started, I heard someone on the news say “Oh my GOD, a plane has just run into one of the towers!” Why was all this happening?

• Stressful situations aren’t always what I think.
• Evil plots seem to win at times which makes me nervous.
• Trouble doesn’t come at convenient times when I’m ready for it.

Many people around the world will remember what happened on this tragic day. I know I will. I also remember an argument with a loved one that same day. This day changed the course I was on in many ways and I questioned GOD. “Why are YOU allowing this to happen?” was my question.

• Out of storms I learn many lessons from GOD that I cannot hear when things are going well.
• Out of trouble my soul cries to GOD in ways I never cry out to HIM when I have plenty.
• Out of trials I get stronger because GOD puts my heart to the test, not to see if I would fail, HE knows that, but to burn away impurities to follow HIM the way HE wants to be followed.

This same chapter discusses the problems with becoming wealthy and forgetting GOD in the process. I fully understand this because I have forgotten GOD many days. HE desires that I remember HIS power, HIS love and especially HIS grace for me to respect HIM.

• Are you in the middle of blaming GOD?
• Do you think GOD is out to get you?
• Can you accept HIS course correction and get excited about where HE is taking you?
• Won’t you respect HIS wishes for you and praise HIM for what HE has done in your life?

Believe Today!

Deuteronomy 2: ⁷ The Lord your God has blessed you in everything your hands have done. He watched over you when you traveled through that huge desert. For these 40 years the Lord your God has been with you. So you have had everything you need.

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“I think I can make it!” I said to myself as I sprinted through the busiest airport.  Fortunately my plane was at a close gate this time.  As I arrived at the gate, to my dismay the plane was pulling away and so went my dreams of having this wonderful conversation with the partner of the firm.

“GOD, why did YOU put all this traffic in my way?” I mean I left in plenty of time, or so I thought. Now I have to catch another plane, arrive late and instead of being on the partners’ good side, I would have to explain my shame away!

• In moments of stress I quickly fall into a panic.
• In moments of duress I easily fall blind to what’s wrong.
• In moments of pressure I hastily fall into short term planning without thinking.

My panic comes from an unsatisfied expectation of GOD.  I mean when I really want something I can’t have then panic sets in because I haven’t thought of another path.  I only thought about getting or achieving “that” thing. When I panic I lose trust in GOD.

• GOD says “stand still and watch the great thing the LORD is about to do right here in front of you!”
• GOD says “I decided to show you my power”
• GOD says “This day is your deliverance.”

During stressful times, GOD wants me to quiet down for a moment and communicate with HIM.  HE wants me to understand HIS might and power in the situation. When I allow GOD to take on the fight my trust increases.

Looking back on the many disappointments I’ve had in life, I have realized it was great that I didn’t get what I wanted because GOD gave me what I needed!

• Is your faith slipping?
• Did you want something so bad only to find it crumbling away from you?
• Are you willing to let GOD take things away from you?
• Can you let HIM guide you onto HIS path instead of trying to do things on your own?

Where can I find a quiet place?

Numbers 7: ⁸⁹ Moses entered the Tent of Meeting. He wanted to speak with the Lord. There Moses heard the Lord talking to him. The Lord’s voice was speaking to him from between the two cherubim. The cherubim were over the place where sin is paid for. It was the cover on the ark where the tablets of the covenant were kept. The Lord spoke with Moses there.

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Seven o’clock in the morning was my flight so I had to make sure I had the rental car returned in enough time which meant I had to check out of the hotel early enough to leave in time! On the way to the airport, I mulled the day over in my mind. I thought about the agenda, who I was speaking to and what emphasis I was going to make.

Crowd of people crammed into the shuttle, then on the plane. From that point on it seemed like I was around someone all day! At least 1275 questions were asked of me that day. I went to bed exhausted.

• Some days I get too busy to stop and listen to GOD.
• Some days I don’t have time to talk to the LORD.
• Some days I have too much to do and my time with GOD just gets away from me.

When I prioritize GOD as the lowest on my list then everything else gets put in front of HIM.  I mean I have to work right? Yes, but GOD wants me to speak to HIM first and listen to what HE has to say. It’s not enough to throw an obligatory prayer at HIM to appease my “talk” quota with HIM.

• GOD wants me to find a quiet place to speak to HIM.
• GOD wants me to settle down so I can hear what HE has to say to me.
• GOD wants me to actually seek HIM every day to figure out what HE wants me to do.

Moses couldn’t wait to hear from the LORD. I have finally reached a point in my life where I need to speak to HIM to reduce the confusion and anxieties the day has to offer.

• Do you have a quiet place where you can actually speak to the LORD?
• Can you hear what HE is saying to you or do you feel HE is speaking to everyone else but you?
• Won’t you stop trying to steer GOD and let HIM work HIS plan out for you?
• Can you take time today to praise HIM for the good and bad because it’s HIS plan?

Desperate to be a slave

Genesis 47: ²⁵ “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”

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“Incumbent” was the word I learned at the end of my college career. It meant I owed them some money and unless I came up with the cash, I would not graduate. I hadn’t done the math but I quickly figured my lack of income plus bills equals problems.

I panicked and went into the counselor’s office.  Taking out a loan was my option but I knew I needed to start paying within months of graduation. I needed a job! One company took a chance on me. I was saved. I could pay my bills.

• When bills pile up I get nervous.
• When cash is low I get nervous.
• When the future seems cloudy I get nervous.

The Israelites grew desperate and sold themselves into slavery. They sold their land and themselves because of a sever famine. They were desperate.

When I get desperate, I panic and will do pretty much anything for self-preservation.  This may mean working for groups I don’t want to work with.

• GOD understands my desperations and has taken them into account when building a plan for me.
• GOD understands my panicked behavior and wants me to settle down enough to listen to HIM.
• GOD understands my blindness to my situation and desires that I communicate with HIM to show my reliance on HIM.

In order for GOD to be supreme in my life I must be willing to accept HIS plan for me, the way HE designed it. This may mean some bumpy times but rather than becoming desperate HE wants me to become reliant on HIM.

• Are you becoming desperate?
• Do you feel panic ensuing?
• Won’t you look to GOD for peace?
• Can you turn you panic into helping someone else become calm by telling them about GOD’s love?

How to keep going

Hebrews 10: ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

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Our church was led to place “stretch goal” type ministries in a bowl and everyone was supposed to draw one out. Thinking this would be easy; I reached my hand in and pulled out a whale! “Run a marathon” my card read. What!? Before this particular race I rejected the notion of running. I mean why would anyone run 26.2 miles?

Right around the last quarter of my daily training run the same discouraging message would pop in my mind, “give up” or “why are you doing this” or “feel that pain, it could end up permanent.” It seems like many things in life have the same discouraging messages.

• Many times I feel like giving up.
• Many times I want to throw myself a pity party and talk about how bad things are.
• Many times I see the difficulties ahead of me and get scared and want to do nothing.

Life has many obstacles and sometimes things look very bleak. Many storms ravage my very existence and I feel tossed about like a rag doll in the wind. What can I do?

• GOD says “draw near” to HIM with a sincere heart not a phony, churchy, judgmental one.
• GOD says “hold unswervingly to hope” in HIM because HE knows the great plans HE has for me.
• GOD says “encourage someone” because it takes the focus off of me and places it on HIM.

Life has many challenges and can sometimes be scary. BUT GOD cleanses my guilty conscience, purifies my heart and holds the key to hope.

• Is life difficult for you?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Can you stop listening to the negative talk for a minute to hear GOD has a great plan HE promised to give you?
• Won’t you persevere and push through the pain?

A big stress reducer

1 Timothy 6: ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

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“Car” was the answer to the question what would you buy first if you had “x” amount of dollars. It seemed like we had many of these conversations. We would talk about vacations, houses, gadgets, clothes and jewelry. When the raises and bonuses were passed out we immediately went on a shopping spree to get more stuff.

Even when something broke there were no worries because we could just buy a new one. I guess the sleepless nights, political coos and not seeing my family was worth it, right? Hmm…

• When I think about losing my stuff I get stressed.
• When I look at bills mounting higher than cash I feel anxious.
• When I see new stuff has come out and my old stuff is obsolete I get discontent.

What is it about the “stuff” that makes me want it so bad? Is it the commercials that say my life will be better or is it the reaction from the crowd that points at me for having the latest thing? I don’t know what it is but I want it! Or maybe I don’t.

• GOD wants me to be content so I should take my eyes off of stuff.
• GOD wants me to have peace so HE says “don’t desire stuff so much.”
• GOD wants me to remain in the faith so I should guard my mind against the anxieties of the world and allow GOD to handle my finances.

I want to be rich but does GOD want me to be rich? Can I handle wealth or will I become the thing GOD hates the most namely an arrogant, proud, useless soul who cares more about the stuff than people. Being wealthy is not the problem, GOD blesses many. The “desire” to be wealthy is where I open myself to doing “anything it takes” to get there.

• Are you doing anything it takes to get more money?
• Are you content?
• What drives your worries the most?
• Can you let go of some of your worries and focus on what GOD is doing in your life?
• Won’t you spend some of the time you normally spend chasing your dream on GOD?