Undoing Stress

Did you know you might add more stress to your life through self-stress without realizing it? What is the difference between self-stress and natural stress? How do we know which one we are experiencing, and why is it important to understand the difference?

Natural stress comes from the pressures of life that are unavoidable. We all experience this to one degree or another. It can be illness, family issues, career challenges, relationship difficulties, finances, death of loved ones, or any difficult life event that causes a heavy heart.

Self-stress, on the other hand, is the default of the mind that adds unnecessary burden on top of our genuine stress. It may be replaying worries in our head, fretting about something that hasn’t happened yet, perhaps ruminating on a hurtful situation, etc. The problem is that self-stress turns into real stress. When we experience them together, it becomes double stress. If not appropriately managed, over time, it will affect our spiritual, emotional, and physical health. Here are some questions to consider to see if we might fall into the category of self-stress:

1. Do I find myself worrying quite a bit?
2. Do I strive or fret?
3. Do I tend to agonize over a problem?
4. Do I replay stressful events or potential events repeatedly in my mind?
5. Do I struggle with anxiety?

A Christian Cardiologist speaking on stress and its effects on the heart teaches that the body’s chemical reaction in prolonged times of stress causes breakdown not only to the heart but to many functions of the body, including the digestive and immune systems. He even suggests that good stress has the same effect on the body over time. For instance, a woman planning a wedding may be very excited about the upcoming event. Yet, the state of being under the continual pressure of putting together the event can wear on the body and emotions, and come wedding week; she may find herself ill.

Not only does stress affect the body, but through our emotions, it can have a similar breakdown on our spiritual health. In other words, the same way it wears on the body’s various functions, it wears down our spiritual reserve. For this reason, we must separate the stresses we must carry from the self-stress that we add to it. Otherwise, we will find ourselves in a weakened spiritual condition. Self-stress can cause gradual withdrawal from spiritual battle and spiritual desensitization (where we feel spiritually unmotivated). This makes us susceptible to discouragement, depression, worry, anxiety, and many other ailments.

We all will experience trials – we can’t go through life stress-free. The Bible says, “…in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Yet, think about this: How can we carry the natural stress that comes with life and trouble if we are not a good steward of our health? And how can we be healthy physically enough to carry our burdens when we are causing emotional breakdown spiritually by self-stress?

If God has brought you to an awareness in this area, it is a good thing! It is often when we are facing simultaneous exhaustion—body and soul—that God allows the stilling of both to reorder our health. “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). Crawl into His healing arms. Let Him renew your health both spiritually and physically. Pray and ask Him to show you how to be a good steward of stress and health. Consider it seriously, with all gravity, any impressions and inspirations that He gives. Replace those moments of self-stress with the truth of His Word. This is a good and trustworthy prescription to be applied. God cares about your stress, your health, and the condition of your soul—He, indeed, is the ultimate Physician, Counselor, and Rescuer!

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