Out of Control

Stress can do funny things to people. I am not saying that we don't have the right to be stressed. Life gives us many curve balls when we least expect them.  It's what happens to us in the midst of them that can send us over the edge! Answer for yourself what you do when you are stressed.

When I am stressed I _______

Eat
Work out
Sleep
Drink
Watch TV
Do Projects
Read
Pray
Get grumpy
Feel emotional
Lose Control

Many of the items on this list are what I do when I am overwhelmed with stress. 

 I hate that I know what triggers the stress yet still allow it to produce disquietude within me. Feeling out of control produces some mighty big anxiety for me. It is in these moments that fear can overtake me, dragging me into the pit! 

I am so glad that God has not left these feelings out of the bible.  Many of our favorites have expressed their feelings of hopelessness, despair, frustration, fear and anger. 

Stressed out people of the Bible

David
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5

Solomon (maybe)

So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:20

Job

Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on people, fear and trembling seized me and made all my bones shake. Job 4:13-14

Elijah

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, I Kings 19:3

Daniel

I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. Daniel 4:5

Biblical answers for our stress

Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.1 Chronicles 28:19-21

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:17-20
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,  Psalm 91:1-16

Remember that you are not alone, Cry out to God and abide with Him. The stress will never go away but we do not have to be out of control, let's leave that to God.