I’m sure somewhere you’ve heard someone say, you’ve gotta reduce your stress if you want to be healthy. Or, man, you’re so stressed out, you’re gonna give yourself a heart attack! How many people know someone like that, or maybe you’ve BEEN that person!
Today we’re going to discuss stress and how it affects all areas of our lives, and take a look at what God says about being stressed out and how we should handle it.
Since 2007, the annual "stress in America" survey by the American Psychological Association has shown a nation struggling under a heavy load of tension and anxiety.
According to the most recent study, published last year, 7 in 10 Americans say stress levels interfere with their physical and mental well-being, causing irritability, anger, fatigue, feelings of being overwhelmed, sleep loss and eating problems.
The biggest sources of stress cited are money (69 percent), work (65 percent), the economy (61 percent), family responsibilities (57 percent), relationships (56 percent), family health problems (52 percent) and personal health concerns (51 percent).
When it comes down to it, stress is a symptom of a modern culture obsessed with performance and perfection.
If you’re a Christian, you’re not immune to stress and the havoc it can wreak on your life if you’re not careful. Maybe you've heard these words from another Christian in one of your moments of stress: "What you need to do, bro, is just trust God more."
If only it were that easy...