Stress

Life sometimes causes us to feel like a rubber band strethched tight. Pressures build up and pull us in different directions or pull against our sense of well being. Trying to do too much work with to little time or too few resources stretches us beyond our capability. Trying to live in todays society with its many demands may put excessive pressures on us. Trying to cope with the financial demands of life without adequet income is a stretching experience. Marital difficulties or difficulties in parent-child relationships, or any relational difficulties can bring dtress into life. What is the answer? God can bring peace in the midst of stress. Even at the beginning of time itself Eve in the garden of eden had stress as we read in Geneses 3:6 23 So she ate some of the fruit, She also gave some to her husband, Then he ate it too. So The Lord banished Adam and his wife Eve from The Garden Of Eden. We read in Geneses 44:18 Then Judah stepped forward and said" My Lord, let me say this one word to you, Be paitient with me for a moment, for I know you could have killed me in an instant, as though you were Pharaoh himself". In 2 Samuel 11:4, 12:11-14 we read Then David sent for her, and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. Nathan replied. The LORD Has forgiven you, you won't die for this sin but you child will die. Even when Our Lord was being quizzed by the chief priests before his crucifixion in Luke 22:54-62 Finally she said"This man was one of Jesus followers!" Peter denied it Woman he said I don't even know the man!" At that moment The Lord looked over at Peter and Peter left the courtyard crying bitterly. Often stress is of our own doing. When we sin we bring painful consequences upon us. Even when Moses was leading the children of Israel out of Egypt Moses was under constant stress. We read in Exodus 16:1-3 The whole community of Israel spoke bitterly against Moses and Aaron. "Oh that we were back in Egypt" the moaned. Stress comes when we fail to trust God for help. In 2 Samuel 22:7 But in my distress I cried out to The Lord, He heard me from his sanctuary, My cry reached his ears. In Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to The Lord, and he will take care of you, He will not permit the godly to slip and fail. In Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, My fortress where I will never be shaken. In Psalm 86:7 I will call on you whenever trouble strikes, and you will answer me. In Isaiah 41:10 Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed for I am your God I will strengthen you. I will help you I will uphold with my victorious right hand. In Matthew 11:28-30 we read that Our Lord says quite clearly "Come unto me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest. In John 14:1 Don't be troubled. You trust God now trust in me. In John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you might have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, But take heart, because I have overcome the world. In Hebrews 2:18 we read Since he himself has gone through suffereing and temptation he is able to help us when we are tempted. Our true character is exposed when we are under stress. How do we respond to it so that someting possertive comes from it? In Romans 5:3-4 we read We can rejoice, too when we run into problems and trials for we know they are good for us, they help us learn to enjure. In James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters when ever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy, for when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow, So let it grow for when your endurance is fully developed you will be strong in character and ready for anything. Character is built from posertive building blocks of life. But it is also built from conuering the stresses and problems of life. What you do with stress reveals your character, But also helps build your character. Sincerely in Christ. Clive (†_Matched_1†)