Quiet as it’s kept, the number one cause of death is typically linked to some type of stress. Unbeknownst to most, stress leads to all kinds of mental breakdown issues. The physical effects of stress are also numerous, including a greater susceptibility to illness, a lack of energy, problems with sleep, headaches, poor judgment, weight gain, depression, anxiety, and a host of other ills. The three main causes of stress is money, work, and go figure, poor health! Satan has used this stealthy and often undetected, “below the radar condition” to kill, steal, and destroy many marriages, relationships, and lives. (John 10:10). Oftentimes, we use words to cover up this deadly illness like, “I am feeling”—pressured, strained, tension, loaded, weighed down, anxious, concerned, uneasy, and worried. Satan screams at us to lust after the perishable things this worlds offers whereas, Jesus whispers in our ears that whoever does the will of the Father will love forever (I John 2:17). The reality is stress of all kinds is a natural part of life (Job 5:7, 14:1; 1 Peter 4:12; 1 Corinthians 10:13). But how we deal with it is up to us. If we choose to try to do it on our own, we will not find lasting relief. The only way we can consistently and successfully deal with stress is through Jesus Christ. First, we must believe in Him. Second, we need to trust Him and obey Him. Perhaps no passage in Scripture better captures how to handle stress than Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The Lord tells us not to be anxious about anything, but rather to turn everything over to Him in prayer. Lifting our burdens and concerns to a holy and righteous God daily will most certainly mitigate and/or completely eliminate the stress in your life. It is only by His grace, mercy, and love that the stress in our lives can be properly managed.

#JesusIsTheRx4Stress