Stressed!

This month’s X-alt was looking at issues of stress and pressure.  We began with adding up stress points (based upon the Holmes and Rahe stress scale – in case you want to know!).  We discussed how stress can make people ill, and how it might affect us.

We looked at how some people from the Bible responded to stressful situations and what we could learn from them:

• David
• Elijah
• Jesus
• Jesus (again)
• Jonah
• Paul & Silas

We finished off by looking at Philippians 4:4-7 which tells us:

Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.
Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon
Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (New Century Version)

And then we spent some time in silence – praying.  Asking God to help us with the stresses and pressures we face, giving them to him, listening to what he had to say, and receiving God’s peace.  This peace isn’t just about things being quiet and relaxed – it is peace that is about flourishing in every area of our lives.  Receive it and enjoy it and share it with others!