Off-Load Stress – Part 2: Stress in Changing Times
Times of change are always stressful. That’s obviously true when a national resolution is in process. It’s also the case when a country’s basic values are later tested by an issue such as slavery—or, more recently, abortion.
Even in the personal realm, a change in circumstances, almost always adds an element of strain to life. For example, moving to a new location creates anxiety, as does losing a job or even taking on a new one. You might feel stress when you begin attending a different church, when you retire, or when you see rapid growth or steady decline in your business. Getting married, getting divorced, going for counseling to correct longstanding dysfunction, dealing with a serious illness in the family—all these situations add an element of stress. And the list could go on and on.
Stress seems to be a part of our American way of life. This is a fast-paced culture where changes come rapid-fire. So headaches are cared for with a couple of aspirin or Tylenol™ tablets. Chronic body symptoms can be suppressed with a swig of Pepto-Bismol™ or maybe a spoonful of Metamucil™. Do you relate at all to that word stress? Some say, “Ignore the pressures, forget the deadlines, let someone else do what you’re doing. So what if you kill yourself for that dream you hold so dear. The world will go right on.”
And suddenly you feel like John Adams walking the floor all alone, reviewing the facts and sensing there is no hope. You reread the emergency fax that came in that afternoon: “It’s imperative that you act now!” You’re sure there’s no way things could possibly work out the way they should, and that, unfortunately, this critical opportunity isn’t going to come around again for a long time.
When change is accompanied by stress, it needs to be offloaded daily onto Christ. Instead of venting feelings late at night in a room where no one can see you, as a Christian, learn how to “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” That’s a promise from 1 Peter 5:7. Jesus really does care.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
