Stress: Does God Care?
Unfortunately, those tough times can also cause irreparable damage to one’s health if it is not handled. Recently, a friend, age 32, and a coworker’s sister, age 40, both suffered strokes. Both women’s doctors attributed part of the cause to inordinate levels of stress in the women’s lives. That’s a scary thought.
No longer are strokes the fear of those in their 70’s and 80’s. Thanks to the ever-increasing demands of our society, strokes, migraines, and certain strains of cancer are being shown to be directly linked to unbearable stress.
Stress affects not only your self-esteem and your joy of living, but also has been found to be a contributing factor in 90% of employee sick days in the United States! It can make you physically ill! Since our society isn’t simply going to give us a free pass and allow us off the hook any time soon, it becomes imperative that we learn to cope better with our anxieties. Once we overcome the initial slump of the ‘woe-is-me’ phase, we must lift ourselves out of the stress-filled zone and onto better footing. The best way to do this is through encouraging yourself in the Lord. Just what kind of stress are you under?
Surprisingly, clinical psychologists have found that good events can cause just as much stress as those we would view as negative. Consider the events below.
Stress Level By Event--------------------------------------------------------------------
100 points Death of a Spouse
73 points Divorce
65 points Marital Separation
63 points Jail Term
63 points Death of a close family member
53 points Personal injury or illness
50 points Marriage
47 points Fired from Work
45 points Marital Reconciliation
45 points Retirement
44 points Change in family member’s health
40 points Pregnancy
39 points Addition to the family
39 points Business Readjustment
38 points Change in financial status
37 points Death of a close friend
36 points Career Change
35 points Increase in marital arguments
31 points Mortgage or loan over $10,000
30 points Foreclosure of mortgage or bankruptcy
29 points Change in work responsibilities
29 points Trouble with in-laws
28 points Outstanding personal achievement
26 points Spouse begins or stops work
26 points Starting or finishing school
25 points Change in living conditions
23 points Trouble with boss
20 points Change in work conditions
20 points Change in residence
20 points Change in schools
19 points Changes in the church
17 points Mortgage or loan under $10,000
16 points Change in sleeping habits
15 points Change in number of family gatherings
15 points Change in eating habits or dieting
13 points Vacation
12 points Christmas season
11 points Minor violation of the law
So, just where are you?Take a moment to tally your results. For those who score in the 0-149 point range, you have a low susceptibility to stress-related illness. For those in the 150-299 point range, you have a medium susceptibility to stress-related illness so you need to take a proactive look at your faith levels! For those scoring at 300 or above, not only will daily Bible reading and prayer be necessary to weather this storm, but a support group is a great idea. Your pastor or pastor’s wife or even a few good girlfriends will help a lot!
I’ve often heard the saying, ‘Fear is having faith in the enemy rather than God.’ Indeed, one of the best ways to cope with stress or fear is to build up your faith through reading God’s Word and remembering the many things God has already done for you. Consider these scriptures if you’re stressed!
Stressed Out!:Psalm 37:39 Nahum 1:7 Psalm 37:24 Psalm 73:26 Psalm 32:7 Psalm 22:24 Psalm 71:20 Psalm 42:11 Psalm 91:10,11 Psalm 18:2 Psalm 9:10
Psalm 37:39 “But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.”
Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”
Psalm 37:24 “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
Psalm 32:7 “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”
Psalm 22:24 “For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.”
Psalm 71:20 “Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.”
Psalm 42:11 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
Psalm 91:10,11 “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
Psalm 9:10 “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
