A photographer was snapping
pictures of first graders at an elementary school and making small talk to put
his subjects at ease. "What are you
going to be when you grow up?" he asked one little girl. The little girl paused and then replied: “Tired."
Here are some humorous comments about stress. “Reality is a leading cause of stress among
those in touch with it.” “I used to
have a handle on life, but mine broke.”
“I'm not stressed out. I've just
been in a very bad mood for 30 years.”
“I'm not saying I'm stressed, but I've been seriously thinking about
billing my doctor for the time I spend in the waiting room.” “You know you're really stressed when you
start getting on your own nerves.” I'm
not saying I'm stressed at work, but I've been taping pictures of my boss on
water melons and lauching them from high places.”
Anyone here know anything about stress? Stress is a normal and inevitable part of
life, everyone faces it. You are not
alone. Stress influences how we
interact with others and how we feel about ourselves and our future. We generally use the word "stress"
when we feel that everything has become too much - we are overloaded and
question if we can cope with the demands and pressures placed upon us.
When demands are felt to greatly exceed our ability to cope
with or deal with them, we are stressed out.
Stress includes feelings of tension and anxiety. It's the wear and tear our minds and bodies
experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment. One definition is that stress is the
combination of a stressor and the body’s reaction to it. Stress is the body's response to changes that
create taxing demands. Stressors are
triggers that cause us to experience stress. They can be major life events or
small daily hassles. Being stressed can
be a temporary condition or chronic.
Stress must be taken seriously. It has been linked - directly or indirectly
to hypertension, cancer, depression, ulcers, and heart disease.
Surprisingly, stress can be a positive in your life. Yes, I said positive. Sometimes stress get's you going and is good
for you. Positive stress provides mental
alertness and efficiency. Positive
stress feels exciting, generates energy and improves performance. It can increase self-esteem. Without any stress wouldn't our lives be
boring? Wouldn't they feel
pointless? Stress can help to motivate
you, to help you focus, and drive you to meet your deadlines. It can give an extra burst of adrenaline to
help you meet your goals.
Positive examples of stressors, which may seem daunting at
times are planning a wedding, having a baby, moving to a new community, buying
your first home, graduating from college or getting a new job or being promoted
at work.
But when the stress undermines both our mental and physical
health it is negative. Negative stress feels overwhelming and out of your
control. It threatens our equilibrium
and well-being. Examples are the loss of
a job, divorce, a car accident or illness.
Physical signs of distress include: changes in eating or sleeping
patterns, weakness, dizziness, frequent headaches, neck and back pain, and
frequent colds and infections. Emotional
signs include: persistent hostile or angry feelings, increased frustration with
minor annoyances, nervousness, lack of concentration, anxiety, and depression.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops after a
terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of physical
danger. Symptons, like recurring
flashbacks, continue to occur. The mind
and body reacts as if you are still in immediate danger. PTSD is common to war veterans, the VA deals
with this regularly, but it can also result from other traumatic incidents,
such as a mugging, rape, child abuse, car accidents, or natural disasters such
as floods or earthquakes.
I think of the stress President O'bama and his cabinet is
under given the state of the world today.
He knows Americans generally don't support more involvement or sending
more ground troops to Iraq . On the other hand, an evil terrorist group,
Isis, is rolling over northern Iraq ,
killing and displacing innocent people.
They are threatening genocide against Christian minorities in Iraq . They have committed attrocities against
Muslims and Christians. Obama, as we
have heard, has decided to send humanitarian aid and to authorize military air
strikes to attempt to stop this terrorist group from commiting genocide. Our prayers are with the president and his
cabinet, the brave pilots conducting the strikes and the innocent people of Iraq .
In our passage from II Timothy, the apostle Paul is under
stress. He is in prison in Rome . I’ve personally been in a number of prisons
in CA, not as an inmate, let me be clear, but when I was a Criminal Justice
major at SDSU, and just being in a prison raises one’s anxiety level.
The apostle Paul is writing to his close friend and
associate Timothy from prison. Paul
knows that his death is near at hand. “As
for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my
departure has come. I have fought the
good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” In his time of deepest need, Paul’s friends
had deserted him. “Demas has deserted me,
Crescens has gone, Titus has left. Alexander, the metal worker did me a great
deal of harm. In speaking of being in
court and defending himself against charges, no one came to my support, and everyone
deserted me.”
The Apostle Paul openly and honestly shares his feelings in
that situation. Have you ever been
stressed out? What are some antidotes
to stress? How can we better cope with
and reduce stress in our lives?
Certainly we know that getting regular exercise, learning to meditate
and relax, getting rest, taking a break, and other things are important
antidotes. But I offer some insights
based upon this lesson.
First, know who you are and whom you are called to serve! Paul opens this letter with the testimony: “Paul, an apostle (that is, one who is sent)
of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in
Christ Jesus.” Paul knew who he was.
The 5th century B.C. Greek philosopher Socrates said: “Know thyself!” What does this mean? I think it means know
your capabilites, your limitations and your strengths, know your heart and your
mind. Know who created you and who
called you. Know the one whom you
ultimately serve and are accountable to.
If you don’t know who you are, you are vulnerable to allowing others to
define you and you are susceptible to collasping in despair when challenges
face you.
Our faith says: ”I know who I am because I know whose I
am. I am made in God’s image. I am a forgiven sinner. I am a child of God. I am a servant of God. I am a friend of Christ. I am loved by God. I am accepted by God. Christ is with me.”
Second, know your purpose, what you’re trying to accomplish! Paul’s mission was clear: God had called him as an apostle to bring the
gospel to the Gentiles. He writes: “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me
strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all of
the Gentiles might hear it.” Seek a
clear sense of your purpose in every situation of your life. Sometimes we find ourselves asking – “What in
the world am I doing, why am I here, what am I trying to accomplish?” Seek clarity in your purpose and
persevere. This may be a situation in
the church or in a relationship or at work or in the community or in your
family. Know why you are doing what
you're doing.
Having a plan, setting priorities and goals is critical,
because otherwise you’ll be pressured to follow or conform to other people’s
ideas and expectations about what you should be doing. You’ll feel pressured to
do things which you may not feel in your heart is right for you.
Certainly we listen to others, I'm not saying that. For sometimes they are right and other times
they are wrong. Don't assume others
advice must be right or must be wrong.
Filter it through your sense of your own purpose and priotities.
Third, seek out support from others. Paul
writes: “Do your best to come to me
quickly.” There is an urgency
here. He doesn't say “hey, give me a
buzz when you have a moment, text me when you get a chance.” But rather - come quickly. Reach
out to others. Communicate with others,
don't let your pride stand in the way.
Talk to others you trust about your situation and the overwhelming
pressures you are feeling. Shun the
Superman/Wonderwoman urge, “I can handle it by myself.” God will work through others to sustain
you. You need other people for
spiritual and emotional support.
When something is stressing you out, don't bottle it up;
share it with a trusted friend. Paul,
virtually alone in prison, further writes: “Get
Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. Only Luke is with me.” Reach
out for help from others. It is amazing
how most people are ready to listen, pray with you and give support. God will speak and reveal himself through
others.
Fourth, keep your focus on God! Keep God at the center, maintain your daily
walk with the Lord, know whom you truly worship and depend on and rely on. Look at your schedule for the day or week
and pray: “God, out of all the things I
could do, how do you want me to spend the time you have given me.” “Or God
these are the things I must do, I pray for strength and guidance and peace.”
Spending time in prayer for God’s
guidance will reduce anxiety and stress and bring you peace.
Sometimes in the midst of life’s burdens, stress and
pressures we lose our focus and turn away from God, the source of life. We take a detour from nourishing our soul,
our spiritual life and try to solve the problems alone. When we lose our spiritual focus, stress
quickly builds. Recall Paul’s words in
Philippians: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Make a
commitment to maintaining a regular pattern of worship and personal prayer and
time in the word.
The apostle Paul makes the following request: “When you come, bring the cloak that I left
with Carpus at Troas , and my scrolls,
especially the parchments.” These
would have included the O.T., perhaps the Gospel of Mark, a scroll of the
teachings of Jesus, copies of his own letters and other important
documents. Paul knew these resources
would inspire him.
I love his closing words: “Everyone deserted me, but the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength.” “The
Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his
heavenly Kingdom. To him be glory for
ever and ever.”
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