The Overwhelmed Challenge - Lesson Three - Things That Cause Stress

The foundation scripture for this study is Romans 8:28 (HCSB)  We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.  Review Last week we talked about the challenge of dealing with critical people who cause stress and anxiety. Here are the questions that we should   ask ourselves when faced with a critical person and or criticism How Well Does This Person Know Me? What Attitude Does The Person Criticizing Have? Is it condemning or loving? Does What The Person Is Saying Pass Through The Filter Of Scripture Context is importantIs This Criticism Personal Or Shared By Others? 4. Is This Worth My Time?   I used to try and fight every single ounce of criticism that came my way…and I realized I just can’t. In the end, we all have good things in our lives we need to focus on. So don’t spend your time fighting the critics, spend your time focusing on Jesus and the blessings He has given to all of us. He is the one we will spend eternity with in heaven, and His opinion is the only one that really matters. Intro and Definition This week we want to talk about some of the other things that cause stress.   The dictionary defines stress as “physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension.”  Everyone suffers from stress at one time or another. Stress can cause us to do things we wouldn't normally do and sometimes stress can cause us to completely shut down. Stressors are anything that can cause stress. Stress is inevitable because of the fall of man and the entrance of sin into the world and sometimes we let stress influence our actions. Stress can take quite a toll on us and how we deal with it determines how we can manage it and minimize its toll on us. Stress can come from many directions. It can come from our jobs, our families, our health, our finances, even our church but it is a natural part of life. Stress is real Here are some examples of what the bible says about stress: Job 5:7 (HCSB) But mankind is born for trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.   Job 14:1 (HCSB) Man born of woman is short of days and full of trouble. 1 Peter 4:12 (HCSB) Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.  1 Corinthians 10:13 (HCSB) No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it. How we deal with stress is up to us If we try to do it on our own it will be a long tough battle and the chances that we are going to lose are quite high. The answer to effectively dealing with stress is with Jesus and in believing in Him. If you don't believe in Him and try to do it on our own we will not be able to cope with stress. In addition to believing in Jesus we must trust Him and obey Him. Jesus encourages us. Look at what He says; John 14:1 (HCSB) “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.   Believing in Him doesn't mean that we won't have troubles or stress. It means that with Jesus we are better able to cope with stress.   John 16:33 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Believing leads to trusting  Proverbs 3:5-6 (HCSB) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;  think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.   Adopting the world's way of dealing with stress is leaning on our own understanding.  It means using things like drugs or alcohol, pornography or other kinds of entertainment.  But we should trust the Word of God as our way to reduce the stress in our lives. David was constantly under stress David, who was constantly under stress most of his life, knew that if he sought the Lord and told Him what he was going through that he would find favor.  As David says in the Psalms, the Lord heard and answered him and calmed him down.  Psalm 34:4 (HCSB) I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.    Psalm 118:1-9 (HCSB) 1  Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. 2  Let Israel say, “His faithful love endures forever.” 3  Let the house of Aaron say, “His faithful love endures forever.” 4  Let those who fear the LORD say, “His faithful love endures forever.” 5  I called to the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me ⌊and put me⌋ in a spacious place. 6  The LORD is for me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 7  The LORD is my helper, Therefore, I will look ⌊in triumph⌋ on those who hate me. 8  It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9  It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in nobles. That's what David said when he men were talking about stoning him.  Now that's being under a lot of stress. 4 passages of Scripture that I really like in dealing with and handling stress: Philippians 4:6-7 (HCSB) Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Psalm 55:22 (HCSB) Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.  John 14:27 (HCSB) “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.  Matthew 6:25-34 (HCSB) 25  “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26  Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27  Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? 28  And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. 29  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! 30  If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith? 31  So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32  For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34  Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. *10 common things that can cause stress. The belief that I am in control of my life rather than knowing that HE is in control of EVERYTHING (including my life)! When I do not trust the people who I delegate authority and responsibility to and actually begin to believe the lie that, “If I want something done right then I must do it myself.” When I know without a doubt what God has told me to do but I begin to listen to the “experts” who tell me that the very thing God has told me to do is impossible. When I try to explain myself to those who don’t really want an explanation; they just want to argue. When I refuse to take some time to disconnect and rest, claiming that the devil never takes a day off while not understanding that the devil isn’t supposed to be my example. When I begin to take on the “Messiah complex” and begin to think about how much I need to do and how Jesus needs me rather than how much I actually NEED HIM! When I worry about results more than obedience!!! When I focus on the size of the problem rather than the size of God! When I fail to share my worries and concerns and admit my mistakes to others for fear that it may make me seem weak and stupid.  (The opposite is actually the case. Those around me actually love and respect me more when I ask for help!) When I become unaware of HIS presence every single minute of my life! * These 10 things were from the devotional reading "The Overwhelmed Challenge" written by Pastor Nobel Perry and published on YouVersion. I'm sure that there are things that cause you stress that aren't included in this list. We already talked about stress being inevitable but it's how we deal with it that will equip us to win the war over worry. Remember what it says in  Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB) For I know the plans I have for you”—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration—“plans for ⌊your⌋ welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

So don’t worry, God’s got this. Here are some Christian resources on dealing with stress: "Living Above Worry and Stress", "Out of Control", "Too Blessed to be Stressed", "Overworked, Overwhelmed, and Underpaid", "Overwhelmed: Winning the War against Worry"