Personal Development

Before learning to deal with stress biblically, we must first define "stress." The word “stress” is defined in the dictionary as “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.” Few of us need a definition of the word, as feeling stressed is perhaps one of the most common emotions in our modern society. In fact, it is rare to find someone who does not feel stressed on a regular basis, or at least from time to time. Stress can result from any number of factors – finances, family, relationships, work – any aspect of life that has the potential to not go the way we’ve planned it. The gravity and symptoms of stress vary according to individuals, with a mild sense of feeling flustered on the one end and full-blown panic attacks necessitating medication on the other. 4 Ways to Deal with Stress from a Christian Perspective If we can nip stress in the bud, there is a greater chance of preventing it from spiraling into a damaging mental state that limits our effective functioning. As Christians, it is important and reassuring to recognize that God’s word does not remain silent on our stress, and it gives us some very concrete guidance on ways to deal with stress biblically. Steps to take to open ourselves up to this wisdom include: 1. Admitting to God, and ourselves, that we are stressed Sometimes we get so caught up in busyness and in trying to keep up appearances, that we can bury our stress for a long time. Unfortunately, avoidance is not one of the healthier ways to deal with stress, and it will eventually catch up with us in some way, either through physical sickness or mental burnout and exhaustion. The first important step is [...]