Wednesday, September 19, 2012

How Much Does Stress Weigh?


For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, (1 Peter 2:21)

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

It is not uncommon to hear someone observe the difficult circumstances that someone is dealing with and state, “I just don’t know how they can hold up under all of that.  The underlying thought is that there is a limit to what any single individual can tolerate from stress in life; that there is a “breaking point” for everyone.  And yet, there are those who calmly and steadfastly move on regardless of the circumstances.  How do they do that?

Possibly that individual you see courageously continuing on in life has learned some things about handling the stresses of life.  They have learned a way to claim the promise of God from I Corinthians 10:13.

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from ¼ lb. to 1 lb. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance."

"In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax; pick them up later after you've rested."

God knows that we are not able to handle all that life can bring upon us in our own wisdom or strength.  He wants to be our resource and provider.  Peter encourages us to learn to lay our burdens down and let God care for us.  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)  Did you notice what is required for us to release our burden?  We must lose our pride and humble ourselves to God.  It is foolish to believe that we are big enough to handle life without Him.

 

Stop sometime today and hear the call of Christ…
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

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