Why We Get Stressed Out and What to Do About It

[Ramez5]

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matt 6:21-24

Stress is the number one affliction of our modern world. With stress comes a host of other problems--worry, anger, envy, deceit, melt-downs, escapism and even health problems. Is there anyone you know who doesn't feel too 'busy'?

Do you remember the story of Martha and Mary in Luke? They are having Jesus and his disciples over for a meeting and dinner and Martha, a woman most of us can easily relate to, is stressing out in the kitchen trying to get ready for all those people coming over--especially the Lord--and Mary, rather than help, is sitting at Jesus feet listening to him teach. Mary is in awe...and not about to waste this incredible opportunity to spend time with the Lord.. away from the busy crowds.

A more complete picture of the contrast between earthly-mindedness and heavenly, could not be found! I am so so grateful the Lord gave this word picture to us ladies because we all get it.

But how do we get to the point where we can, like Mary, responsibly and peacefully sit at His feet in a situation like this? It's all about faith and focus.

Mary knew her Lord. She had faith that he could make things work out. She knew why He had come. It wasn't about food it was about the kingdom. If they needed food, the Lord could provide. Her focus was on relationship--hers with Jesus.

Martha was 'worried and encumbered with much serving'. Her focus was not on relationship but on service. Her focus was on her own abilities and responsibilities not on the Lord and his miraculous ability to provide. She wasn't thinking about her need for time at His feet but on the 'event'. She was walking not in faith, but in fear. She was earthly minded and could see no way to 'get it all done'.

Lately, I've found myself getting 'worried' about the to do list, my weight, the bills etc etc. I was feeling the burden of the 'cares of this world'. Why? One simple thing--focus and lack of faith. I was short-changing my time with the Lord and getting my eyes on the waves around me. Peter learned that lesson the hard way and I did too. Thankfully, I know where I got off track and like Christian in Pilgrim's Progress, I headed right back!

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,c your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy,d your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matt. 6:22-23

It's all about focus. The only thing that chokes out the Word in our life is love and concern for this life's pressures, goods and needs. If you want to experience the Lord living through you, and walk in the Spirit, you have to walk in and abide in the Spirit and sow to the Spirit and be willing to love the Lord. The question is what do we love.. what do we pursue...what do we treasure? When your focus (eye) is on Christ, earthly things just lose their allure. They are 'ok' but don't make your heart soar. If you want to experience heaven on earth, you will have to be willing to love heaven more than earth.

I love what Matthew Henry says about today's passage in Matthew:

There are treasures in heaven. It is our wisdom to give all diligence to make our title to eternal life sure through Jesus Christ, and to look on all things here below, as not worthy to be compared with it, and to be content with nothing short of it. It is happiness above and beyond the changes and chances of time, an inheritance incorruptible.....A man may do some service to two masters, but he can devote himself to the service of no more than one. God requires the whole heart, and will not share it with the world. When two masters oppose each other, no man can serve both. He who holds to the world and loves it, must despise God; he who loves God, must give up the friendship of the world.

We need faith--in the Lord and a love for Him that will keep us focused in the right place.The Lord can change your heart, your affections, and pursuits. If you will keep your eyes on Him, you will not live worried, fearful, or filled with earthly passions and ambitions.

Like Peter, it is only as we keep our eyes on Jesus, that we can have the faith to believe that everything is sovereignly under his control. Jesus can calm the sea--change schedules, change circumstances, and help us to see clearly what is truly needful and what isn't. He showed Mary that sitting at his feed was needful. Martha didn't realize what was really important because her focus was wrong and very possibly her affections.

You can be at peace with great responsibilities and a long list, but only as you abide in Christ and only if your true treasure is time with Him and a loving relationship with Him.
Stay focused on the Lord and walk in faith. If you look to yourself --you will walk in fear. We can't do it all. We can't do anything period. But the Lord can do what He wants done through you, if you'll let Him.

Ask Him to set you free from love of this world or lack of faith that He is in control of your day, week, and your whole life. Seek him and keep seeking and you will find. Much is in our power! We can 'set our affections on things above' 'clothe ourselves with Christ', 'store our treasures in Heaven'. The problem is we are afraid that if we take time to do these things, we won't have time to get to that list. But the list, to be honest, is always longer than any day. If you wait till you get 'caught up' to seek the Lord, deposit treasure in Heaven, worship, or love others, you will wait forever.

Stress is more in our heads than it is in reality. If you will set your eye on the Lord, and give your whole life, your day, your family, and your activities to Him, recognizing it all belongs to Jesus anyway, then he will take away all that stress.

Stress is just the result of walking in Fear--thinking all the results are up to you and your efforts. We think we are being 'responsible' but often times we are just being 'in control'. The responsible thing for any Christian to do is come to Jesus and obey him.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matt 11:28,29

[Mary Naeem]

Thanks Ramez

[walaa farouk]

Thanks Ramez