Image from Washington Post
On September the 8th, our refrigerator gave up the ghost. A nice run of 32 years, only to be killed by a power surge after SCE turned off the power. We found and purchased a new one on 9/10, delivery slated for 9/26. We didn’t care for the long delay, but on 9/23, they pushed it back to 10/1. We figured we could manage, if we had to. Then on 9/28, they changed it once more, to 10/14. We hope and pray that’s the day, but I’ll wager that too will get moved.
Honestly, compared to Hurricane Ian, that is a small obstacle, but our world seems to grow more hectic. Our monthly calendar seems to get flipped in two weeks. Even in retirement, we have a long To Do list. The carryover of the pandemic still impacts us all, as does the unique blend of recession and inflation. But all of this, from the frig to the others, serve as a metaphor that we live in a world that brings negative events outside our control. Events that bring stress and anger and angst and worry.
So what do we do? Perhaps we can’t control their entry, but we can choose our response, by nurturing the third facet of the fruit of the Spirit—“the fruit of the Spirit is…peace” (Galatians 5:22). Let me suggest a synonym: tranquility. An inner peace that transcends the turmoil that sometimes surrounds us. God, the source of genuine peace, gives three steps.
First, we trust in God—fully in our minds and hearts, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3). Notice the process here. Peace is the result of consistently setting our thoughts that God can be trusted in the worst of experiences. Yes, troubles are real, problematic, and we may not escape the consequences. But, and this is a huge but, we can rest easy knowing we’re in his loving hands. His presence gives us comfort, security in knowing he works in our lives, and peace. So when thoughts and feelings of worry invade us, we can replace them with thoughts like, “God, thanks for the assurance that I’m in your hands, and together we can handle this.”
Second, connect with God intentionally at the first twinge of worry. Yeah, we call that prayer, and it’s an antidote to stress, “don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything…if you do this, you will experience God’s peace” (Philippians 4:6-7, TLB). What should we worry about? Nothing. What should we take to God? Everything. Honestly, nothing is too small to “bother” God about. This step builds an awareness of God permeating every aspect of our being.
Third, build a support system. Or, realize we are not islands, spiritually separated from others. God designed us to be in relationship, to rely on others and to serve them as well. In a larger section of scripture where Paul talks about our need to connect with others, he summarizes it, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Harmony with one another, coupled with God’s presence, magnifies our strength. Relationships give us power in times of stress. Yes, that includes connecting with a healthy local church (not an option for sincere followers of Jesus), being in smaller groups, service teams, and crafting spiritually deep links with individuals.
Yes, we can slow our spirits in the most stressful times. Good news, if we choose to work it.
Kick Starting the Application
How often does stress impact you? Are there certain triggers for you? Which of the steps listed do you most use? Which can you do better on?