Goodbye Stress, Hello Jesus
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Me
Me
I find it so interesting that abstract things which we cannot touch or hold can have such a powerful impact on our well being. One such thing is stress and anxiety.
Stress is so powerful that it can impact the body in negative ways. It can be the attribute to various diseases and stop us from functioning normally.
We
We
But what medicine is there for stress? What remedy can be applied to remove this abstract enemy?
Hobbies? Vacation?
We can’t take a vacation every time life gets stressful. So what can be done?
Our bank accounts won’t all us to be constantly on vacation. Sometimes there just isn’t enough hobbies in the world to combat all the stress and anxieties that are thrown at us.
What can we do?
I believe the Bible has an answer to every problem we will face including our stress.
I would like to share with you how you can say goodbye to your stress and welcome peace instead.
God
God
There is a verse in the Bible that tells us how to fix any problem we will ever face.
It will help you get rid of anxieties.
This verse will bring you peace of mind and comfort.
If we could live by it, a lot of pain and worry could be destroyed.
Here it is.
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
:6-7
Paul tells us to be anxious about nothing but instead bring everything to God in prayer.
This means that when we become worrisome or anxious about anything that causes us stress, we need to give it to Jesus. We should pray first, not last.
But it goes so much further than that.
The word for prayer is proseuche which doesn’t simply mean to ask or beseech someone or something, but it means to lower oneself or to humblify yourself.
That means whenever there is something that is really stressing you out to no end. We are called to bring it to God in worship.
It brings to mind a picture of not just submitting completely to God’s will, but to rejoice in God’s promises as well. That God will take care of your deepest anxieties and stresses.
Paul and Silas are in Philippi the place the letter of Philippians was written to when they were thrown into prison.
They came to Philippi because God redirected their paths. They obeyed and followed God’s will.
But the Romans in Philippi were offended by Paul and Silas, so they beat them, threw them into the inner most prison and fastened their feet in stocks.
It would have been the perfect opportunity to argue and complain to God that He didn’t know what He was doing. Why would God allow them to be thrown into prison if they were doing and obeying God’s will?
Instead of allowing their anxiety and stress to overwhelm them, Paul and Silas decide to worship.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
With no answers of escape, no ideas of what they could do, Paul and Silas went back to the only source of power they had. They resulted to worship.
What do you do when you run out of ideas? How often have you resulted to worship?
That doesn’t mean that you have to find a worship service somewhere, but what you can do is worship God wherever you are.
Remind yourself of God’s promises.
15 And the Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud. And the pillar of cloud stood over the entrance of the tent.
8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Dueteronomy
6 So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
19 God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
num 23:
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 peter
26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Keep the promises of scripture close to your heart.
When we live by these promises we can destroy anxiety and stress. We can become like Paul and Silas who knew that even though they were in a absolutely terrible situation, they had a God who would take care of them.
Paul and Silas worshipped because they knew that God is good all the time. Even when your time is filled with stress and uncertainty.
When we realize that God has our world in his hands, we can breath easily and peace will cover your heart and mind.
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds.
When we give up the things that harm us, that cause us to stress and empty them at the feet of Jesus, God’s peace will cover us.
Its not a peace that our stress is handled, but that no matter what happens, God is in control and the God that is in control is the same God who loves me so much that He died for me.
If Jesus is willing to give up His life for me. He must care about me a great deal. If that is true, then I know that He will take care of me even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Paul and Silas had no way of escape. They couldn’t even move their ankles and that is okay. Because they were exactly where they were supposed to be.
God wanted Paul and Silas there in that prison.
Because God knew there were prisoners and a jailer that needed to hear about Jesus.
Satan thought he could stop God’s two messengers from spreading the good news of who God is.
But God turned that impossible situation into victory.
You
You
But Pastor, you don’t understand my life. You don’t understand how the stresses and anxieties in my life are too much for me to handle.
You are absolutely right. I may not understand. I am not a therapist, but I know a therapist who knows exactly what you are going through. Not only does He understand, but unlike any therapist you could visit, my friend is more powerful than any anxiety or stress you are dealing with right now.
His name is Jesus. He wants to take your stress away. He is eager for you to come to Him and present your cares in authentic, genuine worship.
We
We
Now imagine an entire community of believers who trusted in God’s power so much that that stress and anxiety had absolutely no effect.
How can this happen? By each and everyone of us giving all of our cares to Jesus.
This doesn’t mean that all of your stresses and anxieties will disappear from your life. No they will still be there. But what it does mean is that the peace of God will cover all of those cares.
When God’s peace covers you, you will have peace that God is taking care of your life.
Do you want peace over in life that only God can bring?
You can make it happen with a prayer of humility. Give it all to Jesus trusting that what God has promised is already happening right now, right here.
Pray.