Many years ago, a survey was conducted by Research and Forecasts Inc. for Mitchum antiperspirant and deodorant to isolate the major sources of stress for typical Americans. Among the 501 adults surveyed, 36 percent cited work as the most significant source of stress in their lives. The second was money at 22 percent; third, children at 10 percent; fourth, health at 7 percent; fifth, marriage at 5 percent; and sixth, parents at 5 percent. Only 5 percent said they had no stress in their daily lives, and 19 percent had little. I think we can raise these percentages by more than a few points today.
The question is, “How can we not have stress when we have stressful circumstances?” Before we address this, we first need to understand that it is not specifically the circumstances that cause stress. Everyone has difficult circumstances. Stress arises in how we respond to those circumstances.
Eliminating stress is really dependent on who you look to and trust when in these circumstances. If you think you are in control, no wonder you are stressed because you are not. The fact that you are experiencing stress proves it. But there is one who is in control: God! Now, when I say this, I often get this response, “Why then does God allow me to be in such difficult circumstances?” Let me answer it with a question, “Have you ever allowed your children to go through a difficult situation so they could learn and grow?” It is the same with our heavenly Father, He allows us to go through difficulties so we can learn to trust Him and grow in faith or show us our need for Him. Some of these things are quite difficult, but in every case, they are for our good. Growing times are not easy, but the more we trust Him, the less stress we will have.
This is the promise to those who are His children. Jesus said, “Do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span? “And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. “But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? “Do not be anxious then, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ “For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:25-34.
Christ is the answer to our stress. Do you have a personal relationship with Him? Find out more at www.taylorcreekchurch.org or call us at 425-432-0634. You can also join us on Sundays, 9 AM for Sunday school and 10:15 AM for Worship. We are located at 21110 244th Ave. S.E., Maple Valley.
