Dear Pam,
Over the past five years, my life has been one crazy mess. I feel like I've been in a triathlon that has lasted five years instead of
several miles. Things are finally starting to slow down but only because I've developed an illness due to the overload of stress and
must step down from many of my responsibilities. What does the Bible say about stress and how can I get a better handle on my stress
before it kills me?
-- Merri
Dear Merri,
Stress. It comes at us from all sides. I believe the key is how we look at the situation, and how we redirect those emotional situations
so they don't make us sick. Of course, in the middle of the storm, the winds battle us and we do our best to hold on without being
tossed back and forth.
Once the storm calms, once the weather is better; we can assess and look at what caused the problem. But no matter how stress falls into
our day, stress is painful. Life crashes in, and the whirlwind of pain is real, and we seek relief. We need a reprieve. We need to
breathe and we need to laugh.
For me, it begins by reading the Psalms, and taking in God's word. Psalm 91: 14-16 says, "Those who love me, I will deliver; I will
protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor
them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation."
We can trust in the fact that God is in control even when we're not. I know God is bigger than anything I might endure, and He is my
comforter. We're all in training and living the race of life, like a heavenly Olympic challenge; one that puts us to the test.
A friend of mine is making plans to run in heaven, because running is something he's never done on earth. When he was a baby, a blood
transfusion changed the course of his life. The wrong type of blood caused his hips to grow abnormally, and for most of his childhood,
he spent his days in the hospital.
When he was a small boy, an old guitar made its way into his hands and he discovered song and music. Sure, at first the music of his
soul was deep behind the layers of pain from his surgeries, and hidden under the casts on his legs and hips. But nothing, nothing was
going to keep this boy from singing.
He played the guitar and sang, and the nurses would leave the call button on, so they could listen to him. His pain brought music in to
their lives, and soon his own sorrow was replaced with praise. Oh, what an old guitar can do for the soul.
And that might be the lesson for us. We can take our pain and help someone else, and lighten the load for another person. We can sing in
spite of stressful situations, and diffuse our inner turmoil by reading God's word and by singing praises.
Now if you need an old guitar, go for it. Play some Christian music. Tap your foot. Or grab a whistle, but whatever you do -- sing.
My friend still plays that old guitar, and he's written songs and performed for thousands of people. All the while, he has limped to the
stage walking with his cane. But nothing is going to take away his song.
He tells everyone, that God's grace is sufficient. He says that he may limp up to the gates of heaven, but he'll run on the other side.
Yes, sometimes we struggle to get a handle on stress. But if a little boy can sing, we can too. In Isaiah 12:2 it says, "The Lord, the
Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."
The Lord has plans for us. He wants us to prosper, and He gives us hope. We can call upon Him and He will listen. He longs to put a song
in our hearts even if our life feels like a lifetime triathlon of stress.
Hey, when I think of heaven; that makes me want to sing! I know. I know. I can't carry a tune, but God doesn't mind, He just wants my
praise!
About The Author:
Pam Kumpe writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column for the
Bowie County Life/Texarkana Gazette in East Texas. She
hosts a podcast "Daybreak Devotionals," a series on the women of the Bible. For more about Pam go to
PamKumpe.com or visit her blog, www.pamkumpe.blogspot.com.
* Information provided in this column is for entertainment purposes only.
The information in this column is not meant to be taken as legal, medical, or professional advice. Read legal
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