Feeling stressed out? Ever feel that way? Maybe once in a while? Maybe all the time? Maybe for as far back as you can remember? Ever felt SO STRESSED OUT?!
I have struggled with stress all the way back to childhood! On my personal page in my school yearbook, in black and white for all to see, was the expression I used ALL the time: “I am so stressed out!”
Fast forward to my being in my mid 50s. I still oftentimes feel SO STRESSED OUT! Yes, I still struggle with stress. Daily in fact. Probably a combination of a relatively challenging life, being worn out by it all, and the simple fact I am prone to feeling SO STRESSED OUT!
So you know what God put on my heart to encourage you? This. That THE LORD MAY NOT TAKE AWAY WHAT MAKES US FEEL SO STRESSED OUT. But THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHEN WE BELIEVE IN HIM AND FOLLOW HIM AND LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM WILL HELP US THROUGH IT ALL!
When I was a child, I did not believe in God. All the stress fell on my shoulders! Now that I am a totally devoted follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I can cast all my cares upon His shoulders! I don’t have to deal with the stress alone, and neither do you! Not when you believe in and follow Jesus!
What must we do? CRY OUT TO GOD, pray our hearts out to God, call upon Him, pray continually to Him, cast our cares upon Him, call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, cry, cry, cry out to Him, learn to abide in Him, to rest and trust in and look to Him, commune with Him, have a deeply intimate relationship with Him, spend time alone in His presence, be filled with and led by His Holy Spirit, praise and worship and adore Him, seek, hear, and obey Him, experience His presence, His nearness, His closeness, set our hope and expectation in Him, place our trust in Him not just once but over and over, learning to continually trust Him, etc.
Earlier this very day I write this, I consciously in prayer cast each one of the issues stressing me out on God. For I am not alone. He who gives me breath is with me every breath that I take. He by His Holy Spirit will lead, guide, and provide for me through every step of my life so long as I humble myself and yield myself to Him and lovingly, humbly, faithfully follow Him!
Friend, the same is true for you! So long as you lovingly, humbly, faithfully follow Him!
The starting place is to turn from our sins, believe in Jesus as Lord and in His death and resurrection, turning our lives over to God and His ways, genuinely committing ourselves to Him. Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives. We are then forgiven, given a forever relationship with God, and the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. From that point forward, we learn to follow Jesus day by day and forevermore. And as we face the stuff in life that makes us feel SO STRESSED OUT, we can cry out to God and trust Him to lead us through it all! Hallelujah!
Please, friend, CRY OUT TO GOD! Amen!
“casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”” Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV