Where Does Stress Come From?

Introduction

While we may never find ourselves in exactly the same situation, as long as we’re in this world we are frequently going to face a variety of stressors.

Regardless of age, education, social condition, gender, or economic status, everyone encounters stressful situations. They simply cannot be avoided.

John 16:33 KJV 1900

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Psalm 90:10 KJV 1900

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Job 5:7 KJV 1900

7 Yet man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward.

…through every age of life, people face one challenge after another. The kinds of stressors may vary from person to person and from age to age, but the experience itself does not.

The only choice we have is how we will be affected by, and will respond to, those stressors.

The Source of Our Stressors

James 1:2 KJV 1900

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

…it’s helpful for us to identify the sources of stressors we encounter.

Some of the stressors may come from our environment or from circumstances in our lives.

Unpleasant events that we experiences…are all examples of stressors that come into our lives. These stressors often involve things over which we have no direct control.

Our Limitations and Deficiencies

Some of the stressors in our lives come from our own limitations and inadequacies. You look around and see others who are more gifted than you. They have abilities that make it possible for them to do what you would like to be able to do but can’t.

You compare yourself to what others around you are doing and you find yourself weighed in the balances and coming up short. You even compare yourself to what you used to be able to do and are disappointed in what you find happening. You come to the conclusion that you’re going in the wrong direction and losing ground in terms of your own personal progress.

In one way or another, every one of us will experience stressors that come to us from our own limitations and deficiencies as we go through life - deficiencies that may be intellectual, physical, social, financial, relational, and spiritual.

Other People

It seems the closer we get to people, the more we get needled.

The truth is that our relationships with people can be a great source of joy, and they can also be a great source of heartache.

Obviously God knows this, and that is why there is so much in the Bible about the importance and difficulty of maintaining good relationships with people.

Good relationships don’t just happen automatically; they require a lot of work to achieve and sustain.

According to Jesus, peace with people is not something that happens automatically; it’s something that we must endeavor to make.

Matthew 5:9 KJV 1900

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Ephesians 4:3 KJV 1900

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

In James 1:2, we are reminded that in life we’re going to face many different kinds of trials (stressors). The rest of the book of James makes it clear that the source of many of these trials will involve getting along with other people.

Typical Responses to the Stressors of Life

Identifying the wrong ways that we are prone to respond to the stressors we encounter in life can help us to avoid these wrong, ungodly, and destructive responses.

Matthew 26:41 KJV 1900

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Debilitating Fear or Anxiety

One of these wrong responses that we must be on guard against is debilitating fear.

Fear can take many forms (I’ve only mentioned a few), but regardless of what form it takes, it’s inhibiting. Inordinate, debilitating fear is a wrong response to the stressors of life. Scripture, of course, is right on target when it tells us that fear brings a snare and brings punishment and torment.

Proverbs 29:25 KJV 1900

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

1 John 4:18 KJV 1900

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

According to Scripture, fear that keeps us from living the kind of life God wants us to live is unnecessary and extremely destructive. In numerous places, God commands us not to fear and tells us why there are no justifiable reasons for this debilitating fear response to stressors of life.

Proverbs 18:10 KJV 1900

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Isaiah 41:10 KJV 1900

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

1 John 4:18–19 KJV 1900

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Worry or Anxiety

Closely connected to the response of debilitating fear is the response of anxiety, or that is more commonly called worry. Worry usually focuses on what may happen if something does or doesn’t occur.

Matthew 6:34 KJV 1900

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

However, it’s not limited to an inordinate concern about the future; it can also be response to what has happened or is happening. A person worries when thoughts are about the past, present, and future consume and constrain the person in some way.

Worry is usually associated with something that appears threatening, something that you perceive may harm your safety, something that you would like to control but are overly concerned that you can’t control.

…the Bible not only tells us frequently not to worry, but also encourages us with the good news that we can experience a peace that passes understanding.

Matthew 6:25–34 KJV 1900

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Philippians 4:6–7 KJV 1900

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Bitterness, Anger, and Resentment

Bitterness, anger, and resentment are more common, ungodly ways of handling the various stressors we encounter in life.

The Bible contains examples of many people who responded to the stressors that they encountered in this way. The book of 1 Samuel describes how Saul responded in a similar way to his son Jonathan and his friend, David. Genesis 4 tells us that Cain responded this way to God and to his brother Abel. Genesis 27 gives us an illustration of this kind of response in the case of Esau and his brother, Jacob. Even the great prophet Jonah handled the pressure of unfulfilled desires and unwanted circumstances by becoming angry (see Jonah 4).

Ephesians 4:31 KJV 1900

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Philippians 4:5 KJV 1900

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Colossians 3:8 KJV 1900

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Depression and Discouragement

As noted previously, Cain in the Bible not only illustrates that anger is a very common response to stressors; but, in addition to that, he illustrates that depression, gloom, and discontentment are also common responses to stressors. Scripture says that he became angry and his countenance fell (i.e., “he became very depressed”). His disappointment, depression, and dissatisfaction over not getting his own way was so great that it manifested itself on his face and in his demeanor (see Gen 4:5-7).

…(King) Ahab typified a very common response to the stressors of life.

In contrast to this way of handling stress, the Bibles says...

Philippians 3:1 KJV 1900

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Philippians 4:4 KJV 1900

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 KJV 1900

16 Rejoice evermore.

1 Timothy 6:8 KJV 1900

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV 1900

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Envy and Jealousy

Going back to the Cain illustration, we note another typical, ungodly response to the stressors we encounter. Cain was angry, despondent, miserable, and unhappy; he was also very envious and jealous of his brother.

…Cain’s response to the stressors of seeing his brother honored above himself becomes a vivid illustration of the truth of Proverbs 27:4

Proverbs 27:4 KJV 1900

4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; But who is able to stand before envy?

Honesty would compel many of us to admit that we have not done enough rejoicing with those who rejoice and that we we have not always been devoted to others in brotherly love or preferred to honor others above ourselves as noted in...

Romans 12:15 KJV 1900

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Romans 12:10 KJV 1900

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Who of us can say that we done nothing out of selfishness and vain conceit, and that in humility of mind we have always esteemed others as more important than ourselves?

Philippians 2:3 KJV 1900

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Annoyance, Irritability, and Impatience

When we are in pressure situations, the ungodly responses of choices for many of us are irritability, annoyance, and impatience, which are expressed in our faces and in our words and actions. When under pressure, we may be brusque, curt, insensitive, and inconsiderate of the feelings of other people.

…understanding the dynamics of my impatience has been helpful in my sanctification process, as I develop more godly responses to the stressors in my life. Being forewarned of the possibility of this happening has encouraged me to be forearmed against it happening.

Denial and Pretense

Through studying Scripture and working with people (including myself) for many years, I’ve noticed that they often practice denial in their response to stressors. That is, they deny the fact that something is bothering them, even if it is. They pretend that everything is okay with them, when in reality it’s not.

Proverbs 26:23–28 KJV 1900

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart Are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, And layeth up deceit within him; 25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: For there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. 27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: And he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. 28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

…this passage refers to people who speak graciously; but, while everything seems to be fine outwardly, inwardly they have seven abominations in their hearts. According to this text, these people cover what is really going on in their hearts with deception - they flatter people with their mouths while hating them in their hearts.

Matthew 23:27 KJV 1900

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Luke 11:39 KJV 1900

39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Psalm 28:3 KJV 1900

3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, Which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

The admonition of Ephesians 4:25 to put away falsehood and speak the truth with others would certainly include the practice of pretending that everything is all right when it really isn’t. Denial to the Lord, to yourself, or to other people is a form of falsehood; it’s a failure to speak the truth.

Recognizing and admitting that you are being affected by what’s happening, and learning how to appropriately respond to stressors, is the biblical way of overcoming stress before it overcomes you.

Conclusion

We have noted two important factors in overcoming stress before it overcomes us: First, …if we want to overcome stress before it overcomes us, we should be aware of the different kinds of stressors we are most apt to experience. Second…to overcome stress, we should identify the particular sinful ways in which we are most prone to respond to the stressors we encounter and should be on guard against them. Additionally, … we should analyze our own lives to determine which of the sinful responses we are most prone to practice. Doing this analysis would involve (1) identifying when we are most apt to respond in an ungodly manner, (2) discovering with whom it’s most likely to occur, and (3) quickly seeking God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of others when we respond in this unbiblical way.

Discussion Questions

Identify some of the most common sources of stress in the lives of people.

In what ways can (or does) our environment become a circumstantial cause of our stress?

In what ways can (or do) our own limitations become a circumstantial cause of our stress?

In what ways can (or do) other people become a circumstantial cause of our stress?

In what ways can (or do) past or future events become a circumstantial cause of our stress?

Identify which of these common sources of stress are most problematic?

How would the Bible describe the main reasons we get stressed out? What are the various wrong (unbiblical) ways that people respond to stressful circumstances?

Besides the wrong responses mentioned in this chapter, what other wrong responses to stress have you observed people using?

What were the most important, challenging, and convicting truths that you took from this chapter?