Let Christ Handle Your Stress!

"Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."  - Mat 11:28 (NLT)

It's easy to feel stressed during the holiday season. Daily life can be stressful anyway, but it can be even more so at this time of the year. Work, home, family, holiday shopping, travel, finances, and bad weather can raise stress levels ever higher.

Let me illustrate this point for you. According to a 2015 survey, sixty-two percent of the interviewees defined their stress level as “very or somewhat” elevated during the holidays. Only 10 percent reported "no stress" in the same survey.

Stress can make us feel as if we are being squeezed between two immovable objects, hence, the "squeeze" or "pressure" is on. How much stress one can withstand differs from person to person. Eventually, we all reach our limit or breaking point.

Scriptures acknowledges "stress" in many different ways (Proverbs 1:27). It is sometimes called grievousness; heaviness; distress, trouble; anguish, perilous, and dangerous. There is nothing happy or joyous about any of these words. They are dark, bleak, and somber, for sure.

If left to our own devices, this world would be a very dismal place. There would be no hope, rest, or peace. But thanks to the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ we are able to find our way out of the gloominess and hopelessness. We are not left to flail around without a lifeline.

Our Lord and Savior can deliver us from stress if we call on him. The psalmist writes in Psalm 119:143 (NLT), "As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands." The source of comfort he is referring to is the truth of God. This same reassurance is available to us, as well.

Recall what happened in Luke 8:22-25 when the disciples were stressed out because a sudden, violent storm threatened to sink their boat. Who did they call on at the height of the storm? They called on Jesus, who then calmed the angry waters.

He is never out of earshot when we need to call out to him. He is always as close to us when we need him, as he was to the disciples on that day. Some may say that they have called on him before but without any success.

Does this mean that he will turn his back on us? No. Jesus will never turn his back on you or I. Romans 10:13 tells us, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  Where do so many go wrong?

There have no real faith in their pleas to him. Jesus knows our hearts, he can tell when we have true faith, or not (James 1:6). Whatever we ask must be done in complete faith and trust in him (Matthew 21:22). He desires a sincere faith from us.

This holiday enjoy the season and all of the wonderful things it has to offer. But if you find that stress is starting to close in on you, remember, you always have a "stress reliever" in Jesus Christ. Call on him if you need to, and even if you don't. He loves hearing from us anytime! (Philippians 4:6)

Scripture: John 14:27; Matthew 6:27; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:13; Exodus 14:14

Prayer: Dear Lord, when the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul, amen. -Psalm 94:19 

God bless you,

Lauren