A Biblical Way to Handle Stress - Part 1?

by David G Jones

This is not a transcript of our audio message, simply my notes that I used to preach the message. Hope you find them useful. All our bible readings are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.

I want to talk about a subject that occupies the minds of many people.

In fact, I’m told that 1 in 5 adults are affected by it in this country today.

The thing I want to talk about is 'stress'. I had played with the idea of calling my message “Hung Out, Wrung Out or Strung Out” – but in the end I have settled for “Handling Stress – The Bible Way”.

Why do I say that ?

As so many people are affected by stress today, there is a lot of so called “stress management” information available, as well as various “techniques”.

Unfortunately many of these techniques are just occult based relaxation techniques – which although may bring some temporary relief – will in the end open the door to occult oppression in your life.

In fact I was disturbed to find, that even so called “Christian Stress Seminars” were using some of these occult techniques.

So plainly, God has the answers for us – so what are they ?!

Lets first define so of the words that are used here.

Life is full of demands made upon us. These demands are made upon our time and our emotions. The source of those demands can come from our family, relationships, work, ourselves etc etc

For example – just for your self, you need to eat – which involves planning meals, having shopping expeditions to buy the stuff and so on. When buying the stuff, you need to have one eye on your budget which is another demand and so on. As we each look at our own lives there are many, many demands placed upon us. Sometimes the demand is less obvious but we still feel it as pressure. For example, there can be some unresolved conflict in a relationship that makes demands on your thinking. You are in bed, you feel all relaxed and are about to fall asleep, and then you remember this person, and you start rehearsing the last conversation you had with them in your mind, you stomach starts to turn slightly as you remember their hard words.

Some demands seem like pressure. In fact the bible sometimes refers to this pressure as “trouble”. A couple of examples.

• 2 Cor 4:8 – You could read this as “under pressure” but not crushed”
• 2 Peter 2:7-8 . Vexed lit means “exhaust with labour”. Simply by being in this sinful city Lots soul was being tired out !

Now, the way we react to these demands and this pressure is what people call stress. Stress is an “adverse” reaction.

This can manifest in many ways. Anxiety, depression are typical emotional reactions. Back pain, stomach pain, various minor illnesses, inability to sleep, sleeping to much are typical physical reactions.

Some people can withstand many demands and much pressure, some can withstand few demands.

Now some pressure is good. It can motivate and focus us on the things we need to achieve…But what we need is Gods balance so we look to …

(Read) Matt 11:29-30

This needs to be our anthem. This needs to be the focus and constant reminder as we study this subject.

As Gods people we are to take his yoke and carry the burden he has given us.

The yoke was designed for the animal. As long as you went in the correct direction, everything was fine, try and move against the yoke – result pain !

So first principle of handling stress the bible way

[1] Seek Gods will for your life and walk in it

Critical much conflict is wrought in us emotionally and with the obvious physical out workings when we try to fight Gods way for our lives. Yield to it.

This requires us to spend time with God – when feeling under pressure that is the last thing you want to do – but it is the most critical. As we spend time with God and ask for His wisdom, he gives it, and He sets direction for us.

The next obvious statement here is the promise that Gods burden is light. There is a burden to carry, there are things to do -–but its light. So we come to the next practical step.

[2] Identify demands and pressures that should be removed

Think about the things you do and are involved in. Take the list to the Lord, pray about it and see what should go. Maybe there is a relationship that should be finished. Maybe you are involved in something that you should not be. Try to focus your efforts and activities around your key giftings and responsibilities. Don’t do things because they need to be done. Do them because that’s your call. Maybe you spend 4 hours a night watching TV – make it two – now you have some time to do that budget and have a time with God I don’t know. You know. Follow Gods leading.

[3] Identify those demands and pressures that can be shared with others.

Ex 18:16-19 – "wear out" – lit burn out. High percentage of pastors give up in first 10 years. "too heavy" – the burden is not light.

Sometimes we do things that seem to be good – but God wants us to tackle the problem another way. The job should still be done – but done differently.

What did Moses do here – he delegated. What is the spirit of that – shared the burden. The work load was spreadout.

Gal 6:2 What does that mean in practice. Share responsibility. Share the workload. That can be in the home, the church or at work. Example. Get your kids to tidy their own rooms. They are sharing the burden and responsibility. A little tip here that we see in Ex 18. Agree before the work split in a very clear way.

Sometimes people get very frustrated because a job is not done to their satisfaction. So agree. For example, with our kids we this is what we mean by a tidy room. We will check once a week at 12 on Saturday. Clear bounds. Every knows whats expected of them. That is the guidance that Jethro gave Moses.

[4] Set aside a Regular time of rest.

Mark 6:31 -- rest, Gk is “no labour so that strength is regained”. We do need to plan for ourselves periods of rest.

Read Gen 1:31-2:3

Interesting that God rested and he rested, from His work. This is what set the pattern for a sabbath. No some people will say that taking a sabbath is a question of holiness – well lets look at Paul

Read Col 2:16-17 & v20

This is not anything to do with holiness. However, there is wisdom in taking a period of rest. So we have no obligation to take a day of rest. It is biblical to have periods of rest.

What did God do ? He rested from His Work. I see that he rested from the demands and obligations that he had. The things that were viewed as ‘work’.

Now some people say, well If I do that, I've just got more stuff to do during the week. Well that brings us to the earlier points. Remove some stuff. And careful plan the rest….

[5] Plan Your Demands

My daughter does her key stage 3 soon. She needed a revision plan. Now without a plan, you could look at the list of things that needed to be done – and panic !! But with a plan, it worked out that she needed to just read 12 pages from her revision guides each day, 5 days a week and it would be all done in time – you can do the numbers and see.

Some of us need to do that with our “to do lists” – we keep thinking of this enormous list of things. We need to do point 5.

Plan the rest. On this day I will try and do x and y. Make sure your targets are realistic and achievable. God did not create the earth in one day – he did it in 6 – why take 6 days ? Perhaps he is demonstrating a life skill for us. Set realistic goals. Then you will be chuffed when you meet them – you will go to bed happy ! You will sleep well !

[6] Mental Atitude

I will cover this in depth in part II – but I just want to say a couple of things on this. Usually those things that we love to do are not burdensome to us. I don’t think that anyone would describe as stressful the demand of spending a week sat by a swimming pool in the sunshine reading a book !.

The way we view these demands is critical to how we cope with the demands. If we see them as constraints on our time, if we resent the demand – it will create more stress for us than simply enjoying what we are doing. That is why it is critical do – that we only engage in those things God wants us to do. God knows what we are like.

I want to talk some more about mental attitudes to demands and pressures. Explore in more detail worry and fears as things that create stress, the battle in our minds but I will do that another time.