How wouldyou like a vacation on a palm-fringed tropical island right now? Would
it remove your stress? Temporarily, no doubt, but the stress would be
back. More practical for most of us would be an evening spent in a
relaxed setting, doing something we enjoy. But for how long would that
relieve our stress? When it comes to lasting stress management, we
definitely need something beyond quick fixes.
A wealth of websites, articles, and books already exist to help us
conquer stress. But often they treat stress like a virus that can be
isolated and remedied. This booklet is different in two ways: It looks
at stress as part of a life story, and it shows how God intervenes in the life and not just in the stress.
Each one of us is unique, and our personal stress levels depend on how we react to all
the events of our lives. Because stressors—the triggers of stress—are
interwoven with the fabric of our daily experience, true stress
management requires a change in the way we relate to life as a whole.
Christianity holds the key to managing this stress. But God is
interested in doing more for us than just helping us handle stressors.
He wants to make our entire experience in life glow as a result of our
knowing Him. He wants to fill our emptiness and be our continual source
of guidance, strength, and joy; as well as a place of refuge when
things get tough. Yet God does not force anything on us. He gently
works to attract us to Him, and we may not feel a need for His help
until our stress level becomes overwhelming. In this way at least,
stress can be a blessing.
The main purpose of this booklet is to increase your awareness of
how God works in the background of our lives by showing you one
real-life story of stress, and also to help you realize just how much
stress management (and more) He wants to make available to you. I want
to share the story about stress that I know best—my own—in the hope
that it will encourage you as your life story unfolds.