Can I Handle the Stress?

By Gary L. Fiscus, 2024

 

          This time of year, e.g., holidays, time, winter blahs, summer heat, etc. seems to stress out a lot of people. Some are steeped in anxiety. We ask, therefore, is there a difference betweenstress and anxiety? Most Christians would combine the two and use Philippians 4:6-8 to justify their conclusions. That certainly would be an appropriate text to use. Upon further investiga-tion, however, we learn that there is some distinction between stress and anxiety. Clinically and according to the National Institute of Mental Health, stress is defined as “the physical or mental response to an external cause.” Anxiety is “one’s body reacting to stress.” That sort of apprehension can occur even when there is no present threat, danger or warning. Anxiety is sometimes associated with worry and worry is contrary to the walk of the Christian. At Matthew 6:34 our Lord said, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”  When one stresses over the events and affairs of tomorrow, he engages in worry, anxiety, nervousness and fear. Rather, the child of God is to “walk in love,” Ephesians 5:2, “light,”Ephesians 5:8, and “wisdom,” Ephesians 5:15. These are all antidotes to both stress and anxiety.  (We will return in just a few paragraphs to the scriptural considerations of these two maladies).

          In a recent mental health conference consisting of doctors and medical professionals two psychological defining words were used during the sessions. These two words werepessimism and optimism. In fact, one of the conference organizers, Ashley Fitzgerald, used a more modern phrase: Doomer Optimist. This is a modernization of what we used to call “the doomsday sayer.” Fitzgerald’s term incorporatespessimism and optimism. The idea is that many people who fall under this heading believe mankind is at the end of history. They advocate and adhere to the collapsing of the world theories. On the other hand, the use of the wordoptimist infers that perhaps the end of the world is not really coming, at least not yet. This is what Ashley labels as a “transformation.” I.E., these people try to hold on to some semblance of morality, to forge ahead and try to find some sort of meaning to life.

          Other statistics and group meetings involving psychoanalysts, psychiatric-therapists and consultants report that in America the average person feels their head “spinning” from stress 156 times a year! (May I inject that is a lot of potential anxiety)! According to one source this time of year, whether it’s holidays or social deadlines is when most people reach peak levels of stress.

          Some of the statistics given by such mental health experts reveals that:

  1. 38% think 2024 was more stressful than 2023. The most stressful recent years have been from 2019 to 2023, (COVID 19).
  2. 35% state that personal financial woes are what brings on their worst stress levels.
  3. 28% say that the entire national economy is their most difficult problem.
  4. 25% stress out over their own personal physical health: E.G.,

          a.       Sleeping trouble 42%

          b.      Irritability 37%

          c.       Fatigue 34%

          d.       Headaches 33%

          e.       Paranoia 31%     

  1. 19% worry about world issues along with 20% concerned over U.S. politics and policies.              (Via Talker Research, 7-29-8-5, 2024).

          Let us get back now to the biblical view and solutions for stress and/or anxiety. Remember we noted, paragraph one, Philippians 4:6-8, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiv-ing let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” We added to this Jesus’ own words in Matthew 6:34 and the apostle Paul’s in Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15.

          The mental health statistics and surveys, conventions and meetings notwithstanding let us search the scriptures (John 5:39; 2 Tim. 2:15). Especially the apostle Paul’s words at Philippians 4 give us a remedy for stress and anxiety. I have created the following formula:

S+A+E=P

          What does that mean? “S” – Scope + “A” Assortment + “E” Effects = “P” Prayer.

          The phrase Paul uses is “In everything…” That indicates just how widespread our prayer are. A modern-day cliché reads, “Don’t sweat the small stuff, because it’s all small stuff,” (Author, Richard Carlson, psycho-therapist, 1961-2006). From this thinking we understand it is often “the small stuff” that causes our stress and brings on anxiety. We are usually most willing to bring our major concerns to the Lord in prayer but we tend to keep “the small stuff” i.e., the little things to ourselves. Our prayers are for “everything.”

          Have you considered the lyrics of Joseph M. Scriven’s, 1855 hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus? (Note the emboldened words):

 

  1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
    All our sins and griefs to bear!
    What a privilege to carry
    Everything to God in prayer!

  2. Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
    Oh, what needless pain we bear,
    All because we do not carry
    Everything to God in prayer!
  4. Have we trials and temptations?
    Is there trouble anywhere?
    We should never be discouraged—
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.

  5. Can we find a friend so faithful,
    Who will all our sorrows share?
    Jesus knows our every weakness;
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.
  7. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
    Cumbered with a load of care?
    Precious Savior, still our refuge—
    Take itto the Lord in prayer.

  8. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
    Take it to the Lord in prayer!
    In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
    Thou wilt find a solace there.
  10. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
    Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
    May we ever, Lord, be bringing
    All to Thee in earnest prayer.

  11. Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
    There will be no need for prayer—
    Rapture, praise, and endless worship
    Will be our sweet portion there.

          Indeed, the SCOPE OF PRAYER is FARREACHING. From our smallest to our greatest needs, wants, and thanksgivings He is there, (omnipresent) to receive our requests and praises.

          The second letter of the formula is “A” for Assortment. There are probably not one or two big things and one or two little things but quite an assortment of things in our prayers. This brings on a variety of points to our mind. The requests we make to Jehovah are inclusive of ALL, (“everything”), requests made to Him.

          The word “supplication,” Philippians 4:6 is separate from the word “prayer.” There is a reason. The former involves more of a mental ascent, a petitioning or beseeching if you please. Not only do we “pray” but we make“supplication.” In a sense we are by definition, “demanding, requesting, insisting, soliciting, entreating” the Lord. (Strong). The apostle Paul makes use of this “supplication/beseeching” in Rom. 12:1, “I BESECH you there-fore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” He is calling upon them, making an appeal to them, and begging them to “present” themselves to God; again, that mental ascent mentioned above.  Add Romans 12:2, “…by the renewing of your mind…” Prayer and supplica-tion are communications with Jehovah. Our heart, mind, and thoughts must be spiritually in tune and in harmony with God!

          The above suggested formula’s third letter is “E.” That is part of the formulary meaningEffect. When we pray, we expect it to be effective. In this subject particularly I expect to receive some impact on my life. I am faithfully turning whatever problems I cannot handle over to the Savior. If I am putting “everything in prayer” before Him, I also put my trust in Him. I know He will bless me and answer my prayers according to His will. 1 Jn. 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, he heareth us.” Consider also the following four scriptures:

  • “Cast your burdenon the Lord, and He shall sustain you.” (Psm. 55:22).
  • “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘fear not, I will help you.’” (Isa. 41:13)
  • “Therefore, I say to you, do not worryabout your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (6:25)
  • “Casting all your careupon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Pet. 5:7)

This is EFFECTIVE prayer!

         

          The result of applying this formula, S+A+E=P in light of these script-ures given is to bring positive results. It is to establish good mental health for you. It is a solution as an applied prescription, remedy, and medicine from the Bible. We want to eliminate stress and anxiety. We are therefore concentrating on our beginning reference, and taking a dose of Philippians 4:6-8,   "And the peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Herein is the nature of the peace of Jehovah. He communicates, i.e., prescribes and spoon-feeds to us the needed medication. We can be made well again, whole, by our reconciliation with Him. Romans 5:1 also gives us this prescription, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Three chapters later, 8:5, the author continues, “For to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”  The Messianic prophet Isaiah penned, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.” (26:3). These words have the cure when you are stressed out and/or caught up in anxiety!