Sress Vs. Pressure

I recently attended a Ladies Retreat and the speaker chose to hit on a few topics that were very real in our lives. My first thought was how brave she was to speak on such topics that are normally taboo, like stress, anger, bitterness, etc. Then as I listened it was an immeasurable blessing to finally have Scriptures and tools to help face some of these issues in my own life. This past year was one of the more difficult ones to live through, but with God’s grace and this retreat there were more victories than failures.

At this particular time I’d like to share what I learned about stress. The first thing I need to do is break it down and define it. We need to separate “pressure” from “stress”. Defined, pressure is the external circumstances in our lives. For example… car breaks down, health issues, unemployment, elderly parents, financial struggles, and so on. In God’s providence, He allows these trials and testings to strengthen us. (James 1:2-4) Defined, stress is the internal result of not handling pressure bibilically. Let’s take a new approach and make a distinction between pressure and stress. Pressure plus the right response equals peace. And pressure plus the wrong response equals stress.

Here in America we often hear the term “stressors”. We should question this idea. Why? It gives us someone or something to blame. This in turn gives us an excuse not to deal with the real issue of our response to these pressures in life. People and situations CAN add pressure BUT they CANNOT cause stress! The answer is our response to the pressure! God is enough to deal with the pressures we face in life.

Let’s look at a couple “Biblical Case Studies”. We see the success of Joseph in Genesis 34-41. Joseph is pressured due to sins committed against him. Those pressures were real- jealousy, slavery, prison, and dreams. Joseph’s focus is on God and others, and consistently displayed a heart of humility. We also see his response to those pressures in the names he chose for his sons. Manasseh means “God made me forget my toil”, and Ephraim means “God made me fruitful in the land of my affliction”. In Numbers 11:10-15 we see the failure of Moses. Moses is pressured due to God’s calling just three days out from Mt. Sinai. The pressures were very real- leadership, wilderness, and needs. Moses’ focus was not on God, or the people, BUT on himself! He displayed a heart of pride in verse 11. When we are stressed we lose our perspective. He lost sight of the real attributes of our Great God. The lessons we can learn from Joseph and Moses are actually simple. Pressure plus the right response equals inner peace and personal growth. Pressure plus the wrong response equals stress and sinful behavior!

What causes pressure to turn into stress? A wrong view of God can. Take a look at Job 42:2, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” We MUST trust Him. Secondly a wrong view of ourselves can. Take a look at Jeremiah 18:1-6, “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.’ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!’.” We MUST trust Him. And thirdly a wrong focus of our attention can turn pressure into stress. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:9, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”

Now what? We look to our resources…

1) Consider stress to be a warning sign. Something is wrong with our heart. (James 1:22-25) We must be in our Scriptures daily.

2) Evaluate your expectations. (Philippians 4:11-13) Every desire we have must be held with an open hand, our Sovereign God knows what should happen.

3) Don’t take criticism personally. (Matthew 7:3-5)

4) Take ONE day a time! (Matthew 6:33-34)

5) Examine your priorities. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

6) Maintain your communion with the Lord! (Proverbs 2:1-5; 2 Timothy 2:7)

7) Determine to resolve conflicts rather than bury them. (Matthew 5:23-24; Ephesians 4:26-27)

8) Deliberately take time to rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)

9) Don’t neglect fellowship with believers. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

10) Seek opportunities to minister. (Philippians 1:8-11)

11) Cultivate a thankful spirit. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

12) Nurture close friendships. (Proverbs 27:5-6, 17) Have friends that will call you to Truth. <3

13) Know what the Bible says about trials and practice it daily! (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Fortifying our spirit and soul with God’s Word will give us all the tools we need. His Word is all sufficient for our lives, and feeding our minds Truth will stop the pressures turning into stress; focusing on God’s glory, God’s sovereignty, and God’s grace. Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

**By Mrs. Sneed**