Why Are You Stressed?
When I was younger, I remember noticing that it was the “in” thing to be stressed. I would hear about it from college students and others. I pondered why they thought they were so stressed. You see, I didn’t take them seriously. True, life can weigh on a person and can even seem quite difficult, but for some reason, I don’t want to give it the label “stress”. Some words get worn out, and to me “stressed” is one of them.
Fast forward to today, I still don’t want to label an event as “stressing” or myself as “stressed”, but I do have a more familiar grasp on the word. When things are tense or difficult or distressing I can feel the tension inside – the stress. I’m sure you’ve felt it too.
I think emotional stress attacks where you are most vulnerable. It knows your weaknesses and plays on them. Especially when you are tired. Stress seems to know your every plan, your every failure and tries to discourage you from taking action, from moving ahead.
So how do you combat this invisible enemy that is bent on “stressing” you out? First off, start with what you know – prayer. Ask God to help you understand the stress and the pressure that you are under. Ask if it is of your own doing so that you can make necessary changes. Ask if it is a blind spot so that you might gain a new paradigm. Ask what this stress is teaching you (and pray that God would help you be grateful for this lesson – it is a loving God that teaches His people!).
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Psalm 139:23
Does stress strike more when you are tired? Then get more rest when possible – go to bed earlier, sleep when the baby sleeps, get up 30 minutes later, etc. I do understand that getting more rest is not always an option depending on your season of life. But know this, when rest is not a possibility (and it is all that you want!), God will be the strength in your exhaustion. So instead of thinking and talking about how tired you are, talk about how God is the source of your strength!
“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31
Is the season of life that you are in a difficult one? Do you find yourself easily stressed? Every season of life has difficult moments, no matter who you are. Let’s identify types of stress to better pinpoint how to move past them!
- Annoyed? Distressed? Frustrated? Impatient? (ie. the children aren’t minding their manners; your coworker takes credit for your work; stock sells out before you can reorder – *we’ll just pretend that last one isn’t taken from personal experience!*) Be specific in identifying your annoyance or frustration. And know that God works through everything. Read that again: Everything. So, those naughty children, that scheming coworker, that disappearing stock, it’s all there to shape you – how will you respond? Pinpoint your annoyance and act accordingly. Train those little loves, talk to your coworker, find better stock and get it ordered. (And sometimes as women we can find “everything” stressing, but that just falls under needing to get St. John’s Wort and act like a big girl!)
- Real weight-of-the-world problems? (ie. life-threatening illnesses, deployed loved one, trouble finding employment, losing a loved one) Trust in the Lord. I do understand the weight, the worry, the sorrow. I can empathize. Turn to your earthly authority and to God. You don’t have to go through this alone!
I really think that identifying stress by its most logical name greatly reduces it! Then once identified, notice if it is an emotion (annoyance, frustration, impatience, etc.) or a real-life problem. Often the only actionable steps that we can take for real-life problems are prayer and patience. But the things that we find emotionally stressing can be addressed on several levels – prayer, attitude development, and change in paradigm! And once addressed, we will no longer find them stressing!
Was there a specific element of stress that I didn’t mention? Please comment below. I don’t even pretend to have all the answers, but I do have a wonderful confidence in God, and I’d love to share what He has blessed me with!
I hope this has encouraged your heart and inspired you as you go about your day!
Until Next Time!
Hope.