I can’t “stress” this enough

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, BECAUSE HE TRUST IN YOU. Isaiah 26:3

When we trade worry for peace it’s always because we trust. In order to keep our minds on God, it will always be because we first choose to trust Him, acknowledge the fact that we need Him, and the fact that we can’t do it on our own. We only make a mess and break under the weight of the stress.

“Stress” is just that, it puts a strain and a worry on something. It stresses it out. 

If I get under the weight of worry, I fall into it’s trap.

The definition of stress is: Pressure or tension exerted on a material object.

Or

State of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.

So, when we stress, we put a strain or tension on something, wherever it may go. To a relationship, to an organ, to your brain. It has to go somewhere. Worrying doesn’t make it go away, it makes it (the strain) worst.

Also, the anguish that we cause our brains and our mental being, will eventually cause us to break under increased tension at some point or as we know it as “ it’s breaking point”. Every object and person has one. Under increased pressure, it demands something of you that you can’t always give. That’s why stress leads to inflammation, sickness, and disease because our bodies cannot handle the stress and strain that we often put on it and put it through. So, it breaks the body down.

The brain at some point if you let it go too far can’t process how to compartmentalize or break it all down any longer, so it takes over (aka mental breakdown). It all starts to become one big blob that has become so large, we no longer even know where to begin and it changes us. Our habits are retrained and the way that we process things are no longer the same. The way we relate to others and situations aren’t what they once were. Stress doesn’t have to be bad just like anger doesn’t have to be AS LONG AS we deal with it right then. The problem tells us that something needs to change. I can tell when I am stressed or anxious over something because I go right to my nails, chewing them away. Or, my back and neck pain are automatically triggered. Inflammation is intense. Imagine what it’s doing to our brains.

The problem isn’t the problem, it’s when we don’t deal with the problem and it becomes unresolved. That usually leads to disaster and detriment. Then it becomes evident. So whatever is stressing us out, we must learn to deal with it. In order to deal with it, we must face it head on. That means something has to change; stopping something, starting something, or having hard conversations and that requires doing hard things. When tension of any kind is pressing against you, it’s telling you to do something but the longer you wait and resist; the harder it will press and pull, and eventually tear you. Don’t wait till it breaks you.

Prayer for serenity:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

Last but not least, not only are we often missing action which is obedience, but trust. Trust is key. 

The fact is, some things are out of our control and power. But, nothing is out of His. He’s got the whole world and each and every one in His hands. Nothing escapes His notice. No thing, no situation or person is too hard or too far for Him to reach. Too often the problem is, we don’t trust Him, so we don’t cooperate with His plan and instead, we fight against Him. We resist. It all comes down to trust. Faith requires trust for stepping out into that which we can’t see. Relationships require and build on trust because fact is, we can’t control anyone try as we may. Our kids require trust. God can be trusted but do we trust Him? Can He trust us? It’s a two way street. I have struggled with this for so long, I’ve almost broken under it’s strain. God is trying to say “give it to me”, but I won’t let go of it or too often, I try to take it back. We must relinquish full control in order to trust and rest in His peace, knowing that HE has this. He has it all. He doesn’t fall off His throne, contrary to popular belief.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Sometimes we give Him half, sometimes only parts. We must give Him all. He wants our whole heart and all of our trust. To fully rely on Him as a child does His Father when he is scared or to provide. His promises are true. His provision real. His grace is enough and He is always on time. When we don’t know what to do, we can trust with childlike faith, assurance and full confidence that our Father will see us through!

Sometimes we fret, stress and worry over things that we cannot control or change. Therefore, we must relinquish it (that thing, that situation, that person) and our need to control it. The truth is, we can’t change it anyway except for towards the bad because:

1- We change our health and our state of mind when we try to.

2- We can make the situation worst because we try to intervene where we never belonged. We need to learn to discern what we can’t and can’t do. If it’s ours to do, God will give us the strength, grace and courage to. We don’t make God change His mind or way. We don’t make it happen any sooner or better. When we meddle, we cause problems. Our ways are not His. He doesn’t fall off of His throne. He reigns above it all, but we may have tried to take the throne and take the reins out of His hands. What can you do? Is it working? Is your stress working? Is it enhancing it for better or worst? Is it leading to peace or more worry? Is it getting the best parts of you?

If the answers to these questions aren’t what they should be, then we must stop because it’s doing us no good. It’s hard to stop and the only way is to trust God. Surrender it. Get into His Word to see what He says. Take Him at His word. Rest knowing that His ways and thoughts are far above yours. If there’s nothing you can do to better it and you only make it worst, then it’s time to take your hands off it. When you can’t do anything else, good, that’s when He steps in. It’s hard I know, BUT trust releases worry and faith releases fear. We are all controlled by one or the other and so we proceed and act accordingly. We must take our hands off what doesn’t belong to us. This is the hardest thing for me, as I’m sure it is for you.

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. Isaiah 30:15

We cannot be an anxious and rest. We can not worry and trust. We must choose which one we will serve. Can’t do both. A double minded man is unstable in all of his ways.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Waiting is hard to do, but He will infuse us with His power. As we wait, we charge.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

He can and will work it all out for your good in the end if you love Him and walk according to His plan. That requires trust. We can trust that He is God and He is good even when circumstances or people aren’t. He cannot lie, We can take Him at His word. Hold onto His promises, trust His plan and that He knows best.  Maybe it’s time to do a self exam, a stress test if you will, to see where our worries are coming from. Can we change it? Then ask ourselves are we trusting, are we really trusting Him! Are we really giving it to Him, or is our grip so tight that we can’t see anything else. This is a good place to start.

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. Jeremiah 33:1

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. 

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

God, I relinquish control to You today, and the stress and worry that comes with it. I trade it in, in order to receive Your rest; to retain Your peace and power. I confess my sin of trying to be God over these situations and trying to take over Your throne: forgive me God I pray. Only You can save and only You Jesus are Savior. I give it all back. I return to You. It’s a daily surrender, a daily choice and a daily walk. Thank You for your love mercy and grace that enables me. When I am weak, You are strong in Me. In Your Son Jesus’ name, amen.