Stressed?

​Americans report being stressed about a wide range of issues, including personal finances, mental health, and the state of the nation. Specifically, common sources of stress include the economy, the future of the nation, violence and crime, and personal finances. In addition to these broader concerns, Americans experience stress related to work, family, and relationships.

​Stress can be a reaction to a short-lived situation, such as being stuck in traffic. It can last a long time if you are dealing with relationship problems, a spouse's death, or other serious situations. Stress becomes dangerous when it interferes with your ability to live a normal life over an extended period. 

There are examples of people in the Bible having stress in their lives. Daniel, while in exile in Babylon, defied a decree to worship the King. Instead, he boldly continued his practice of praying to God and was sentenced to being fed to lions. By expressing trust in God, Daniel experienced rest during a harrowing encounter.

Another splendid example is Queen Esther. She was advised of a plan to kill off the Jews in her kingdom, braving petitioning the King, which could have resulted in her death. By fasting and reaching out to her people for prayer support, Esther received a touch of peace as she took a very risky step.
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When a follower of Christ is stressed or worried about anything, it is a sure sign that their view of God is too small or out of focus, and drastic measures must be taken to correct this lethal misconception.

I once heard someone say that if we look at God through the lens of our problems, God looks ridiculously small. But if we look at our problems through the lens of what we know to be true about God, then our problems look small. Which way are you looking at the problem?

Make Every Day Count!

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