Reducing Stress
 

Senior Living

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. --John 14:27

All of us experience undue stress. Stress is that subtle, yet building, pressure that robs us of our well-being, peaceful state of mind, and sometimes our health. How many times have you thought to yourself, “I’ve got too much to do and too little time to do it!”?

Stress affects us all, although it may seem that some have developed immunity to it. In reality they have simply learned how to handle it successfully. It should be our goal to learn to control the stress we face. If we don’t, then our bodies are likely to experience changes. Stress affects the brain, the gastrointestinal tract, the skin, your sleep habits, your immune system, and most importantly, your spiritual life.

Everyone feels the pressures of life, whether they want to or not. But you don’t have to live life as though you’ve been hit by an 18-wheeler when you lay your head on your pillow every night. To rid your life of stress, claim the promises of Scripture. The Bible says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

In addition, you’ll want to refrain from telling yourself you shouldn’t be relaxing when you finally get the chance to do so. Size down your responsibilities and just say no when you begin to feel an incredible amount of stress. Create some quiet time—possibly even in a very quiet place—to read Scripture, pray, get alone with God, and write out your feelings. And most importantly, plan some quality for yourself—alone.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: If you are feeling extreme stress in your life, ask God to help you relieve it and rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul.

Didn't know this was a senior malady, seems like I had it all of my life. I was put on Valium at 16. I was teaching Sunday School back in those days, dedicated my life to God at 18 and walking very close to God, and life hadn't really begun for me. I didn't leave home until I was 17, didn't get married until I was 21, didn't have my child until I was 24. They said I had a nervous disorder, because I was having severe pains in my stomach and head aches. They couldn't find a cause. They didn't know about the disease of alcoholism. I firmly believe it was the fact that at the age of 14 I was baptized and took part in communion on Sunday mornings, and my body was allergic to the alcohol and wanting more. They used real wine at my church. I can remember trying to take a gulp and trying to make it look like a sip. There was no alcohol in our home. We lived on a farm, three miles away from the highway. I travelled by bus to school, no time or way to get alcohol and the only contact I had was once going out with the girls at work when I was 18 and having a Planter's Punch at a luncheon (forgot about that until recently) and not having any more until I was newly wed and our landlady toasted our marriage with a glass of apricot brandy (horrible stuff). Yet it all stands to reason, that time at 10 years old, when I stole that few inches of communion wine, 1-2" at the bottom of a goblet, that wonderful feeling that stayed with me for the rest of my life, when that wine hit the bottom of my stomach that spoke to me and said "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh", was my disease awakened, never to be put back to sleep again until I was 49 years old. Only through going to my God daily, does that relief come.

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