HOW PEOPLE OF GOD CAN DEAL WITH STRESS

Here is a powerful message from my 27 year old son John. This is a timely word for many in the Body of Christ. You are going to be extremely blessed by this one.

I encourage you to sit back and receive the comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit through His Word. Whatever trial or test you are facing, know this - God is going to bring you through it victoriously - in His might and power. He is fighting your battle - even at this very hour!

Be blessed of the Lord - the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
Connie
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HOW PEOPLE OF GOD CAN DEAL WITH STRESS

by

John Giordano


When I read the Bible, I don't see "super saints." I don't see men and women who were always positive, never went through a test of their faith, and always said and did the right things. I see normal people, who, much like you and me today, had stressful times in their lives.

Consider what the Apostle Paul said about his life -

"For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus." (2 Corinthians 7:5-6)

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed..." - (2 Corinthians 4:8a)

"And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling." (1 Corinthians 2:3)

"...we despaired even of life." (2 Corinthians 1:8)

In other words, Paul, the apostle, who planted numerous churches and wrote a good part of the New Testament went through some major stress in his life. He dealt with fear on a regular basis. Of course, he didn't let it keep him from doing God's will (since giving in to fear like this is a sin). Yet Paul still had worry, stress, and fear assailing him on every side. Consider this job description of the apostle:

"In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." (2 Corinthians 11:27-28)

I don't know about you, but, if you ask me, that is some major stress that Paul was under!

Now consider the life of the Old Testament Patriarch Jacob. A period of time in his life was spent running from trouble. One could say that he was not exactly the most self-confident man. Yet, every time he got into a stressful situation, God was always there to bless, comfort, encourage, and strengthen him.

Consider the first major pressure that Jacob found himself in. In Genesis 27:41-43, we find that he was forced to flee from his brother Esau who wanted to kill him. Yet God showed him a dream one night (as he was in the process of fleeing). (Genesis 28) This dream was of a ladder going up into heaven with the angels of God ascending and descending on it. At the top of the ladder was none other than the Lord Himself telling Jacob - "...behold, I am with thee..." (Genesis 28:15)

The second major stress Jacob dealt with was when he came back to the land of Canaan several years later - and had to face his brother who was coming to meet him with four hundred men (Genesis 32). The Bible gives us insight into just how afraid Jacob was.

"Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed..." (Genesis 32:7)

"And Jacob said, O God of my father...Isaac...Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children." (Genesis 32:9,11)

God heard Jacob's prayer and sent an unexpected guest (the angel of the Lord) to wrestle with him that night. In the end, his name was changed to Israel which means "a prince having power with God and man." (This is recorded in Genesis 32:22-32). Thus God reassured him that everything was going to be alright.

Jacob's third stressful experience is recorded in Genesis 34. Through a series of events, his sons (Simeon and Levi) had made war with and destroyed a Canaanite city. This brought much worry to him.

"And Jacob said...Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the...Canaanites...they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me..." (Genesis 34:30)

Yet, here again, God was with Jacob. He told him to go back to Bethel (the place of his first major stress) and build an altar there to the Lord (Genesis 35:1). As he journeyed, God put fear into the inhabitants of the land and they didn't touch him or his family (Genesis 35:5).

So we can see that whenever Jacob was in a stressful situation, God was there to bring strength and encouragement.

Now let's go back and look at the Apostle Paul. Last we heard from him, he was despairing of life. The care of the churches was weighing him down. He was hungry, thirsty, cold, and lacking adequate clothing. Yet let's look at his testimony to the Philippians to see if the Lord Jesus was there for him in these difficult times.

"I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ Which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:12-13)

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19)

At the very end of his life, Paul penned these words:

"At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me...Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me...and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." (2 Timothy 4:16-17).

Christian, are you facing fear on every side? Is there worry and stress in your life? Are the bills coming due with no money to pay them? Are you studying for an especially difficult test in school and have no idea how you will pass? Are you out of a job and don't know how you will survive? Be encouraged! Mighty men of God in the Bible faced fear, worry, and stress on a regular basis. Yet God always brought them through, and He will do the same for you. Just trust Him. He wants to work a miracle for you.

David said - "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." (Psalm 56:3-4)

Paul at the end of his life said - "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me." (I weep as I write this because I know it's for somebody right now). You can't see a way out of your situation. Stress, anxiety, and fear have you downcast and discouraged. But be encouraged. You will come out of this trial with your head held high saying with the Apostle Paul -

"Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me..."

May God Bless His Word,
John

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