A Christian's Guide to Remaining Stress and Worry Free

Stressed out to the max? The failing economy, gas prices, lay offs, foreclosure- it's enough to make a sane person feel insane. It seems as if there is only one thing to do - stress out! It seems like the only thing left we can so at times is it back and stress out fully loaded with validated worry and finical fear of a total crash due to todays harsh economy. If you've been hit with the stress, fear, tension and worry of a failing economy - stress no more!

Can I honestly ask you recall to mind a situation that your stress has helped you out of? Is there ever a time when you were like "thank God I stressed out about that so bad my hair fell out and my nails were near bleeding!, Oh if I didn't stress out about it, I would have never been able to come up with the money for my electric bill!" Seriously, where has stress ever got you? Anywhere? Anywhere good? Come, on stress has to helpful, right, after all you do it ALL the time, huh? Okay, i will lighten up on the witty humor. Somehow humor makes us get a "Ahah moment!" I hope that helped.

Now back to the reality of stress. I know our economy is falling to the ground. President Bush just announced that we are in a recession, and have been for about a year. Something I am sure we all stressed out about since we have been knee deep in news of our failing economy. Everything from banks going under, gas prices gouging our wallets, and foreclosure rates at an all time high lead to a peak level of stress for almost any American in todays society.

In addition to the big picture on Wall Street, all of our wallets have been hit with a forceful blow pretty badly. Piling high the amount of stress that you personally feel due to the economic struggles of the county; your now faced with higher grocery costs, gas costs, utility rate increases and job instability as lay offs, hour cuts, and ever salaries decline!

Now that I reminded you of why you have been so stressed out and literally filled with worry, I would like to give you some useful information on the damage that stress can cause an individual. Now, don't read this and stress that you have decreased your health, instead - JUST STOP worrying and stressing out!

Did you know that tranquilizers, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications account for one fourth of all prescriptions written in the U.S. each year? Did you know that stress has been linked strokes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other illness? Did you know that stress weakens the immune system "stressing" it out so that it does not perform correctly, leaving you susceptible to more illness and infections. Many migraine sufferers can attribute each painful headache due to uncontrolled stress! Stress can be a the leasing cause of infertility in many couples trying to conceive.

Those are some alarming facts about stress, and yet even though you may have been aware of many of those facts, you still probably stress out more than you would like to admit. The thing is we all are guilty of stressing out every now and then. But I have to tell you, ever since I started taking Mathew 6:25-34 seriously, I began to see relief from my stress.

Do Not Worry

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

It took me a while to really comprehend how ineffective my own stress and worry really was and to truly trust God for everything I needed. He has supplied everything I have have needed and than some. Because of our Amazing God I am able to give our three children one of the most amazing Christmas ever. I have been blessed to be able to stay at home with them, while making money on the side writing for pay,which you can read more about here. I have gone through a time in which I was separated from my husband, in which at times I had no money at all for months, BUT GOD always provided in just the right time every one of our needs at that time. I learned the importance of tithing (read Tithes and Offerings: Do they Still Apply Today) and really having faith that moves the hand of God. I have seen miracle after miracle in my own life, but I first had to say "Okay, God, I trust you with everything and I AM NOT going to worry about any of it" He has certainly eliminated my stress and worries and taught me how freeing it is not living captive to the stress, worry, and finical fears that those who don't have Christ are left to deal with.

So no matter how uncertain these harsh economic times are, remember your God is bigger and is ABLE to provide your every need! If you care for your finances His ways, He will entrust you with more no matter the condition of the economy.

Philippians 4:19-20 - And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.