There are many reasons people experience stress: jobs, finances, relationships, and more. Sometimes it's easy to be at a loss of what to do to cope with that stress; and when at a loss, look to the Bible. Let's see what the Bible has to say about stress...
John 16:33 says, "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." God has given us His Word to look to, to help bring us peace and lift the weight off our shoulders. We live in a sinful world and will have to go through trials and trying times, but God says that it will be okay. James 1:2-4 says, "(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." God says to count our temptations and trying times as joy. When we are going through hard times, we are strengthening our patience.
Luke 12:25-26 says, "(25)And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (26) If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?" This verse is saying that worrying isn't going to make anything better. There is actually research that says stress can take years OFF of your life by constantly worrying. Don't stress the little things. John 14: 27 says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." God gives us peace. He doesn't want us to worry ourselves to death. He doesn't want us to be afraid of living. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." God brings us mercy and remembers us when we are going through hard times. He is there with us to help us when we need Him. Matthew 6:34 says, "Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." God doesn't want us to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow is tomorrow. We should just take one day at a time and simply do what we can now. God will be with us and find a way to take care of us. Romans 5:3-5 says, "(3)And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Again the Bible is saying that tribulation makes us strengthen our patience. Our faith in God grows and we become closer to him when we are going through trying times. Jonah 2:2 says, "And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heard my voice." God hears us when we are crying out for His help. When we are troubled, He is there with us. When we feel like we are alone in our struggling, we aren't alone. God hears us and God ALWAYS has a plan for us. He has not forgotten about us. He has not forgotten you. Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, "(11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (12) Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. (13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." God knows how hard we are trying and knows all the thoughts we have. He knows what is planned for us in the end, and what the outcome of the struggle will be. Just look to Him, pray to Him, and He will listen. God wants us to look to Him and when we look for Him and His answers, we will find Him.
2 Corinthians 12:10 says, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." We may be weak at certain moments when we are going through harder times, but God will make us strong through those times. Psalm 57:1 says, "Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusts in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy winds will I make my refuge, until these calamities be over and past." Whenever we are in trouble, we can take shelter with Him always. Isaiah 41:10 says, "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." God doesn't want us to worry or be afraid, because He is with us and strengthens us. God is there to help us and we can always lean on Him. Isaiah 40:31 says, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." This is one of my grandfather's favorite verses. God is saying in this verse that with Him we will be stronger, things will become better. When we have grown so weary that we feel like we can't go on any longer, he makes us stronger so that we can continue our fight in this world and spread His Word. 2 Timothy 4:17 says, "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." God is with us and strengthens us again, like mentioned in so many of these verses. God will use us and use our troubles in some way to better us or for His works. Our troubles and our stories can be used to help others. Maybe our troubles and our stresses can be used in helping bring people to Christ. This all comes down to God. We are His and He will keep us safe. He knows all that He has planned for us. Just put your trust in God because He knows all. With Him we can have strength.
Isaiah 43:18-19 says, "(18) Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. (19) Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." God doesn't want us to worry about the past. We can't change the past so there is no reason to worry about those things. God is saying that He has a plan for you even through all of the struggles. Part of 2 Kings 20:5 says, "Thus says the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee." God hears all that we pray to Him and sees when we are going through trying times. Psalm 34:18-19 says, "(18)The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit. (19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all." God saves the broken hearted, and even when the struggles are hard, He is there to help you get out of them all. Psalm 40:1 says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." When we are going through hard times, our patience can get worn out, and sometimes we can get impatient for God to give us a sign, so to say. But we just have to put our faith in Him. He will find a way and He hears us. Romans 8:18 says, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." All this pain and stress you may be experiencing now, will be worth it. Whether it be in a week, a month, a year, ten years, or in heaven one day. It will be worth it. God promises us that it is worth it. God is always here for us. He never leaves our side. Matthew 28:20, "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Love, Emily.
