Stress (Part 3) Series

Opening: A wife complained to her husband about having bad migraines lately. Her husband asked: "Have you taken medicines?" The wife answered, "I took Advil and Excedrin, but they didn't help." Her husband suggested she see her doctor, and she did. When she returned from her doctor, she said, "Honey, my doctor told me I am stressed. To reduce my stress, he told me to go to London, Italy or Paris." And then she asked her husband: "Where should I go?" Her husband replied, "Go to see another doctor!"

Today we will continue to learn about stressors or factors that make us stressed and how to reduce them. But I won't tell you to go to London, Italy or Paris unless you want to go there. Last week we learned about three stressors: 1. Work (Overwork), 2. Guilt, and 3. Unrealistic Expectation. And now, let's continue with another four stressors.

4. Fear of the difficult situation and the future.

Here is some news that I read last week:

- EBT: 60% of Bay Area residents surveyed said they feel more stressed since the pandemic hit, and roughly 1 in 3 people said their mental health has deteriorated over the past five years.

– NYT: Americans are spending a dollar more for a gallon of gasoline than they were a year ago. Natural gas prices have shot up more than 150 percent over the same time, threatening to raise prices of food, chemicals, plastic goods, and heat this winter (If you go to the supermarket, like Ranch 99, you will find that some foods prices have become double).

– Yahoo: Your heating bill could be 50% higher this winter.

– The Daily Article: Rachel Levine was sworn in as America's first transgender four-star admiral last Tuesday, making her the highest-ranking official in the commissioned corps and leader of six thousand Public Health Service officers. The sexual revolution continues to advance in our culture. For example, the Pentagon has spent $15 million in the last five years to treat 1,892 transgender troops, including $11.5 million for psychotherapy and $3.1 million for surgeries, including "sex reassignment" procedures. Our culture has fully embraced Friedrich Nietzsche's edict, "There are no eternal facts as there are no absolute truths."

Getting the news like that affects our emotions. We can be worried, even fearful, thinking about the difficulties ahead or the future of America. We will be stressed because we have no control over those situations. And even though bad news like homicides, human trafficking, wildfires, or natural disasters are probably far from our homes, their vivid coverage in the media may make them seem as if they are more likely to occur than they really are.

What should we do? Should we stop reading and hearing the news to reduce our stress? That may be helpful. I think we should not spend so much time on the news. But as Christians, sometimes we need to know what is going on to be more aware and pray more specifically for the situation for God to intervene. Instead of being fearful and stressed, we entrust our lives into God's hands when we hear all of that bad news. We should believe that God controls everything, including our future, the situation in America, and the world. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will, make straight your paths." When we fully trust in the Lord, we will find peace and strength. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Regarding the future, Jesus tells us not to allow the future to stress us out. He told His disciples, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34). So, instead of stressing out about what is going on and lies ahead, let's trust in God, in His love, care, wisdom, and power.

5. Disbelief.

While many Christians know that God cares, they don't believe He really cares for them. This disbelief causes doubt, worry, confusion, and uncertainty when they face problems and challenges in their lives and can become a stressor. For months after Grace got the accident, I remember I was so sad, restless, discouraged, and stressed. Until one night, God spoke to me and asked me if I believe that He loves Grace and Ivan, that He cares for them and allowed the accident happened for a purpose. I was surprised to hear that. Deep in my heart, God knew I questioned His wisdom for what happened to Grace. I asked God why he didn't protect Grace as He did to many other people, why He let Grace suffer so much, etc. But after I asked God's forgiveness and said to Him that I believe He loves Grace and Ivan more than I do. And that I surrender everything to Him, my heavy burden suddenly was gone, and I felt peace. Indeed, I still feel sad, and sometimes I am worried, but I am no longer stressed because I have learned to trust God. Do you still believe that God loves you and cares for you when He has not answered your prayers or when you get sick, or when you experience tragedy in your life?